A MUSLIM religious leader has welcomed a ruling that Ribble Valley Council was "not justified" in preventing plans for a Clitheroe mosque in 2004.

The Local Government Ombudsman report came in the wake of complaints from the Medina Islamic Centre that council officials had rejected the scheme in response to racially motivated opposition from part of the local community.

If the application had been passed, the Medina Islamic Centre would have bought council land in Holden Street and converted it to a place of worship for Clitheroe's Muslim community.

A public meeting to discuss the plans in 2004 ended in racial abuse being directed at local Muslims from those opposed to the mosque.

These actions led to Medina representatives receiving an official apology and a £5,000 compensation payment from Lancashire Police over officers' handling of the meeting.

Medina Islamic Centre secretary Sheraz Arshad, said: "It's the right decision because the Ombudsman pointed out that there was a perception of racial prejudice given out by the council in the planning decision.

"It's important for the council to deal with issues and make sure they are fair on the current application.

"In the end it's not about compensation. The money the Ombudsman has ordered them to pay us will be donated to charity because for us it's about justice."

In November 2004 the council's planning committee approved the site for use as accommodation for elderly people despite information from the District Valuer that the land would be worth more if it was sold for use as a mosque and other business interests.

The report states that the council's rejection "was not supported or justified by the information before the committee" and it found that Ribble Valley had not properly managed the assets of the site or followed guidelines on good practice.

And while the rejection was not "unreasonable in the public and administrative law meaning of the term" the council had lacked clarity and transparency throughout the process, it said.

Ribble Valley Council's chief executive David Morris said it was considering the report's findings.

The council had been ordered to pay the Medina Islamic Centre £250 for its trouble in pursuing the claim.

He said: "Naturally we are disappointed and a full report on this issue will be made to councillors in due course."

Since 2004 the council has worked with the Medina Islamic Centre to help find them a new site in the town and plans are currently lodged to convert a former Methodist church in Lowergate for the purpose of a mosque.