by Jon Livesey (from the Lancashire Telegraph 10 November 2009)

MORE than 300 residents have signed a petition against plans for a 5,000-pupil boarding school for Muslim girls in Brierfield.

Clitheroe Road Residents’ Association (CRAA) has visited homes to rally support against plans to turn historic Brierfield Mills, in Glen Way, into the single-sex, single-faith school.

The group, which includes people from an Asian Muslim background, said it was concerned the school would have a ‘divisive’ effect on the community.

Islamic Help, a national charity, intends to spend 10 years developing Brierfield Mills into the UK’s biggest boarding school and would move Ghausia Girls’ High School, Nelson, into the landmark building.

And it will be added to gradually over the next decade until it is large enough to enable the education of 5,000 Muslim girls to GCSE level.

But some CRAA members have vowed to fight the plans, which are yet to be submitted to Pendle Council.

A spokesman said members had been ‘encouraged’ by the support shown by local householders.

In a letter delivered by the group to homes, it says: “Such a plan for Brierfield Mills from a company based in Birmingham will cause deep-rooted divisions in our town and Pendle as a whole, which would end all the good work that we have all contributed to over the years.

“The wider impact on Brierfield and Pendle’s infrastructure is also a major cause for concern.”

The plans include lecture halls, a gymnasium, kitchen and canteen, accommodation, prayer room, 24-hour library, IT and science laboratories.

Islamic Trust has until January 10 to raise £1million to secure the purchase of the site.

Back

© Copyright 2001-2009 Newsquest Media Group

http://www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk