The Muslim community in South Cumbria County in North West England have lodged their plans for the first dedicated mosque with the local council, The Westmorland Gazette reported.
“The proposal is to construct a two-story community center and prayer hall,” a design and access statement making up the plans said.
“There is currently no dedicated place of prayer of any sufficient size in the south of Cumbria for the Muslim community.
“The purpose of the newly-established South Lakes Islamic Centre organization is to provide a building that offers public prayer space for the Muslim community-based in south Cumbria.
“It is also proposed to provide a public community space, which will have the aim of providing a platform for community integration; operating an open door policy in order to engage with the wider community and share with the local people the various cultures belonging to the religion of Islam.
“The ground floor of the building will provide for a central community hall, welfare facilities, storage rooms, plant and stair/lift access.”
Plans Process
If plans are approved, a community center and prayer hall could be built in Dalton at Crooklands Brow in Ulverston Road.
Members of Dalton Town Council are also due to be consulted with on the proposals.
Moreover, a number of houses on the road have been consulted with on the plans, along with Our Lady of the Rosary Roman Catholic School.
Cumbria is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in North West England. The county came into existence in 1974 after the passage of the Local Government Act 1972.
Islam, unlike in most areas of the UK, is not the second most common religion in Cumbria.
In 2001, 747 people followed the religion (almost 0.2% of Cumbria’s population), with the largest concentration of Muslims being found in Carlisle, Barrow, and Kendal.
Read Also: