A WELCOME and positive solution is offered today to the vexed problem of people - and, on one occasion, even a funeral cortege - being prevented from entering Blackburn's Pleasington Cemetery because of crowds attending Asian burials.

Now, the Muslim community has offered to buy its own separate cemetery.

This is not only a practical response, but also one that would dispel the tension and upset that have resulted from incidents of others being turned away from the cemetery by council rangers and self-appointed Muslim stewards.

And, indeed, the urgency for a solution to be found is indicated today by a council chief's fear this could become a racial issue.

It should never be that. For while it is admitted that difficulties and distress have been caused when the sheer volume of mourners and cars at Muslim funerals have, in effect, turned the cemetery into a no-go area for others, no-one can dispute the right of Asians to attend in large numbers.

As citizens of Blackburn, their right to use of the cemetery is no different from others'. And they have a right to bury their dead according to their cultural and religious traditions.

But, of course, those rights cannot supersede the rights of others.

And it was the notion that this is what was happening that made this problem potentially harmful to community relations.

And while it may be that a degree of separatism is sought - in the form of a distinct cemetery for Muslims - the Asian community have to be congratulated in recognising the problem and offering to solve it for the benefit of all.

Let it also be noted that there is no begging bowl attached to this move, since the Muslim community makes it plain it will pay whatever the asking price may be for the site.

Given such willingness and consideration for good relations with other faiths in Blackburn, the next step should be for the council to do all it can to help the Muslim leaders in their quest for land for their cemetery.

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