The Birmingham based charity, Islamic Help, looks set to buy the iconic Brierfield Mills, the Grade II listed building which was formerly a powerhouse of the textile and then medical fabrics industries.

According to the Abu Dhabi English language newspaper, the National, the deal has all but been done. Yesterday, the paper revealed that:

“Most of the initial purchase price of about £1 million (Dh5.8m) – to be handed over on Monday – has been raised but the charity is appealing to Muslims around the world to contribute towards the development of the site.  Mohammed Masood Alam Khan, Islamic Help’s chairman, said from his native Pakistan, where he has been making a New Year visit, that the first step, provided planning permission is obtained, would be to transfer, as day pupils, 58 girls currently attending a Muslim school in limited premises in Nelson, just over three kilometres away.”

Islamic Help’s website is again appealing for funds for the Pendle Boarding School for Girls which, it claims, will be the UK’s biggest.

Speaking from London today, Pendle MP, Gordon Prentice, said: “If the sale is confirmed, it begs a million questions.”

“First, the Charity Commission must tell us whether Islamic Help has been operating within its charitable objects in raising money for what it today, again, claims will be the UK’s biggest boarding school for Muslim girls. However, the project involves turning over part of the site to other non educational uses such as business units.”

“Secondly, we need to know in full, the precise intentions of the charity, Islamic Help. For example, how big is the school proposed to be? Nadim Akram, a governor of Ghausia Girls’ High School in Cross Street, Nelson, told the National newspaper he would prefer the school to grow slowly with 250 girls “in the early stages”.”

“What is the role of Afzal Anwar, the Liberal Democrat Prospective Parliamentary candidate for Pendle? He is clearly the front man. On 26 November 2009, the Lancashire Telegraph reported that Mr Anwar, a former governor of Ghausia Girls’ High School, had talks with Islamic Help.”

“Mr Anwar told the Telegraph there would be revisions to the proposals saying: “the charity would look to create a sports centre… alongside a commercial village housing start-up businesses”.”

“Third, there are questions for the Liberal Democrat run Pendle Council. I am in touch with the Chief Executive, Stephen Barnes, for clarification of the statement made by Councillor Tony Greaves on 13 December 2009 when he told the Lancashire Telegraph: “The present position is that Islamic help expect to complete the purchase in mid January. If they do not do so, this council will make a bid for Brierfield Mills."

“If, as expected, the Islamic Help purchase goes through tomorrow, there will be huge planning issues to be dealt with.

“This is not a straightforward matter. No way.”

Ends