THE leader of Ribble Valley Council has called for a 'line to be drawn' under plans for a mosque in Clitheroe if the latest plans fail.

Coun John Hill told last night's full council meeting that the council should stop looking for a mosque site if the current application for Kirkmoor Road, is rejected.

Proposals by the Muslim community to purchase part of a former council depot will go before councillors at the next meeting of the policy and finance committee on November 16. A decision was deferred during last month's meeting for councillors to order a report into the social impact of a mosque on nearby residents.

Any decision on the sale of land is dependant on any possible planning matters being resolved.

Councillor Hill said: "I will propose to draw a line under this and move forward if this application fails. The mosque is important to a small section of the community, but we have to look at the community at large."

Speaking after the meeting, he added: "If we can't come up with an alternative site then enough is enough. The constant search for a suitable site is a drain on resources and a controversial matter. However, we hope it will be resolved soon and if an alternative site presents itself, then the door is never closed."

Earlier in the meeting Coun Hill rejected a call to move a CCTV camera to give an existing Islamic centre in Holden Street better protection from attacks.

The centre has been subjected to a lengthy planning battle over plans to turn it into a mosque.

Three weeks ago thugs kicked in a window at the Medina Islamic Education Centre - the fifth attack on the building in three years.