COUNCIL chiefs and Muslim leaders at Blackburn are to meet to thrash out the problems caused by big Asian funerals that have led to Pleasington Cemetery being a no-go zone for others.

And properly sorted out this issue must be - for it stands to become a cause of racial tension.

For whatever the physical difficulties may be over accommodating hundreds of Muslim mourners and their cars at the cemetery, denying access to others on such occasions smacks of the rights of one sector of the community having priority over those of others. That may not actually be the case. But, for the good of community relations, both sides at this meeting must work for the removal of that suspicion - by ensuring that there are no more distressing incidents of people being turned away from the cemetery during Asian funerals.

For although the Muslim community have admirably put forward a solution by offering to establish a burial ground of their own, it could be a long time before that aim is realised, if it is at all.

In the meantime, especially when this vexed situation has prevailed too long already, a way must urgently be found to end the no-go congestion at Pleasington Cemetery - even if it means the loss of one of the pitches on the playing fields outside by turning it into a car park.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.