Residents in South Shore, Blackpool, have been celebrating a ‘victory for democracy’ after plans for a controversial mosque were refused, following widespread local opposition. 

An application for retrospective planning permission for the Noor-A-Madina Mosque on Waterloo Road – a former takeaway – was this week turned down on grounds of a lack of car parking at Blackpool Town Hall.

The plans had been met with a storm of protest from business owners and residents, who had claimed the mosque was operating illegally. Three thousand locals signed a petition to close down the site, and more voiced their opposition to the council after the story was featured on North West MEP Nick Griffin’s website and here on bnp.org.uk.

Many residents cheered from the public gallery as six members of the planning committee voted to refuse the plans, and four abstained, the Blackpool Gazette reported.

Jeremy Smith, owner of Karl Smith Car Sales, which is next to the mosque site, said: ‘I’m very much relieved this has been refused. This is a great day for democracy. I’m delighted residents have been heard.’

The town’s British National Party MEP, Nick Griffin, heralded the result as ‘great news’. However, he urged local residents to keep up the pressure against a promised appeal from the site’s co-owner, local Labour party candidate Natasha Shah.

Mr Griffin tweeted yesterday: ‘Great news. Blackpool super mosque denied permission. It can be done, but keep up pressure v appeal.’

Mr Griffin had previously been contacted by a number of constituents regarding the illegal mosque, following a meeting of over 100 people opposed to the building.

Responding to their appeal for assistance, Nick advised: ‘I believe that it is imperative that the building of new mosques is halted in order to prevent Britain being further colonised by Islamists. It is in the power of the residents of South Shore to stop this one by lobbying Blackpool Council to refuse this planning application.’

Mr Griffin’s Constituency Office provided people with instructions as to how to register their complaint regarding the mosque’s planning permission on the Blackpool Council website.

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