PLANS for a new Muslim prayer centre and community hall are starting to gather pace following the disruption caused by Covid-19.

South Lakes Islamic Centre (SLIC) are spearheading the project, which could see a place of worship installed at Crooklands Brow in Dalton.

The organisation is now hoping to send off a full planning application to Barrow Borough Council in the next couple of months with plans to begin building in Spring or Summer next year if approved.

With Furness General Hospital just miles away, SLIC believe a new prayer centre at Crooklands Brow is an ideal location for the local Muslim population, who usually travel for over an hour to their nearest mosque.

A spokesperson said: “We ideally wanted it to be close to the Furness General Hospital but couldn’t find a suitable property/land and hence Dalton became the next best option, covering Askam, Ulverston,Lindal, Urswick and Greenodd.

“Furness General Hospital itself has 40-50 practicing Muslim doctors/clinicians, plus the additional families of professionals, business communities and other trade workers who will need basic prayer, burial, teaching and community facilities.

“Now the closest mosque is Lancaster which is 50 miles away and due to the lack of basic facilities we see a big attrition rates amongst the Muslim families who leave for other more established towns.”

As well as a nearby facility for Muslim residents, the centre would also help develop a more diverse and united South Lakes community, according to SLIC.

A spokesperson commented: “It will most definitely give a sense of identity and belonging to the Muslim community here in the South Lakes.

“People from the wider community can come and observe what the true religion of Islam is about and the richness of diversity and culture which it brings to the area - it will promote the sense of community service within the Muslims using the centre as the hub.”

The plans were initially mooted in November 2019, but were hampered by the Covid crisis.

Since then, SLIC have used their online platforms to create awareness and welcome donations.

With there being no community events or congregation throughout the past 18 months, SLIC say the pandemic has now increased the demand for an established prayer centre in the Furness area.

A SLIC spokesperson added: “We are extremely excited, due to the pandemic we have transformed ourselves to use online platforms which has brought us in touch with a wider community which sympathises with our cause and a lot of professionals who want to help us with our project.”

To donate towards the new prayer centre, visit: https://www.slic.uk/