A £5 million plan of building a mosque in the UK by billionaire Muslim brothers have been approved.
The plan has been pitched by the Muslim brothers who own a supermarket chain Asda in the UK. It is said to be a ‘landmark mosque’ in the northwest. The plan earlier had faced delays due to the objection on the height of minarets and the noise, it may have caused, reported BBC on Friday.
The local council approved the plan after Issa Foundation has agreed to address 21 issues pointed in the plan. Councillor Phil Riley told BBC that the construction of the mosque will diversify the ‘spirit of the town’. The council had granted permission on Thursday.
With its Islamic architecture, it reflects the changing face of modern Blackburn… and this will show Blackburn in the new light of a place where there is diversity, but also where communities mix.
“It’s going to be an impressive community facility and can… only enhance the spirit of the town itself,” added Riley further.
The planning manager of the mosque, Gavin Prescott, said that the mentioned 29-meter towers “are considered to frame the surrounding areas with the existing church towers associated” with two local churches.
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Prescott further added that noise would be limited with no amplified calls to prayers. The committee was also told that the Issa Foundation would pay £30,000 to improve safety at a nearby junction and employ parking marshals to reduce road safety risks.
However, to encourage religious diversity in the country, BBC began the broadcast of Muslim prayers on its network as mosques were shut down across Britain, part of the extensive measures against coronavirus last year.
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Hence, British-Muslims heard the Friday prayers broadcast on BBC Radio for the first time. The arrangements were made to facilitate the Muslim community to the run-up to the month of Ramadan till the end of April.