A proposed 45-acre Muslim cemetery in Lancashire, which is intended to be the largest in the UK, has generated substantial opposition from local residents. The cemetery is planned to be situated on green belt land near Oswaldtwistle, located to the west of Blackburn, a town with a population of just 10,815.
“We are proud to be part of the development of a cemetery in Oswaldtwistle – a vital community asset that meets an essential need and significantly enhances the current space.”
The Issa Foundation
This cemetery would be larger than the current largest Muslim cemetery in Britain, the Gardens of Peace in east London, which occupies 21.5 acres and contains 10,000 burial plots. Thousands of local residents have expressed their objections to the establishment of this cemetery, which is set to be financed by siblings Zuber and Mohsin Issa, through their Issa Foundation.
The Issa Foundation had previously submitted a proposal to establish an 85-acre cemetery; however, the application was withdrawn due to resistance from local residents, who had raised £17,000 through a GoFundMe page to contest the plans. The plans were highlighted on this website and can be viewed here>>
The original application featured 35,000 plots, prayer pavilions, housing for caretakers, and 752 parking spaces. Following the criticism, the Issa brothers made significant adjustments, limiting the project to 12,250 plots and 356 parking spaces.
Zuber and Mohsin Issa, had held a combined 45% ownership in the Asda supermarket chain. Mohsin co-owns the Asda, alongside private equity firm TDR Capital, but his brother has sold his stake. Mohsin, who stood down as chief executive of Asda in September, retains a 22.5% stake.
The latest application covers an area of 47 acres, which is slightly more than half the size of the first one. The ‘Say No To The Cemetery’ (SNTTC) campaign group has indicated that this development consumes “over half of the Greenbelt” in the area.
SNTTC volunteer and Conservative councillor, Steven Smithson, has spoken out against the proposals, saying, “The community is urging decision-makers to reject the application to protect Oswaldtwistle’s Green Belt, environment, and public safety.”
The revised application has been submitted and will go before the planning committee in the new year.
Credits:
Main Image: Orphan Wiki, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
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