REGARDING the planning approval for the Logwood Street Mosque in Blackburn (LET, December 17), originally, we were told that the application would be refused on grounds of "impact on amenity and traffic congestion."

But now, all of a sudden, the Labour councillors, for reasons best known to them, have decided on a complete about-turn and have chosen to disregard planning regulations and criteria in order to push this application through.

Under the circumstances, it should come as no surprise that this application was put forward by a former Labour councillor and, therefore, even less of a surprise that the Labour councillors on the committee have so conveniently and so overwhelmingly chosen to turn a blind eye to the application's obvious and very serious shortcomings.

Is it any wonder that Labour-run councils up and down the land are continually tainted with accusations of 'cronyism'?

I know this is the festive season and, perhaps, in that spirit, the Labour councillors wanted to extend some goodwill to their former allies.

But it is unfortunate that they couldn't extend the same seasonal goodwill to the hundreds of ordinary residents who objected and who will now have to live with the consequences of daily traffic chaos and other disruptions on their streets which are sure to ensue.

PARVAIZ AWAN (Coun), Corporation Park Ward, Blackburn with Darwen Council.

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