Protests erupt against £2.5m mosque on the edge of the Lake District

Protesters and counterprotesters clashed outside the construction site of a mosque in Cumbria, which has caused controversy just a stone's throw from the Lake District.

15:24, Mon, Jul 21, 2025 Updated: 17:07, Mon, Jul 21, 2025

Dramatic scenes as demonstrators go head to head outside Lake District mosque

Dramatic scenes show demonstrators going head to head outside the mosque site. (Image: SWNS)

Two protest groups butted-heads outside the construction site of a huge £2.5million mosque on Saturday. The project, being built on the edge of the picturesque Lake District, has sparked anger among residents who took to the streets in protest of the South Lakes Islamic Centre (SLIC). Police were called to the scene after demonstrators holding placards clashed.

One group held Union Jack flags with messages reading “No to the mosque” and “Not racist! Just patriotic!”. Furness Stand Up To Racism protested against the group., which included a local Labour MP who slammed the anti-Mosque side. MP for Barrow and Furness, Michelle Scrogham, said: “I am here because there’s absolutely no place for racism in Cumbria.

Dramatic scenes as demonstrators go head to head outside Lake District mosque

Counter-protestors in Dalton, Cumbria, hold signs with slogans including ‘Muslims welcome here’. (Image: SWNS)

Dramatic scenes as demonstrators go head to head outside Lake District mosque

Protesters against the building of mosque. (Image: SWNS)

"The comments that plague the social media pages constantly don’t represent the people of this area. The people of this area have always been incredibly welcoming.”

Paul Jenkins, who organised the counter-protest, said the group were there to support the SLIC.

“The protest against the Islamic Centre does not speak for the majority of people in Dalton or Furness. The majority of our people here are from Furness, including Dalton. We celebrate our multicultural, multifaith community and defend the right of the Islamic centre to be here,” he told local reporters.

The South Lakes Islamic Centre is being built on Crooklands Brow. Residents have claimed the decision was forced through without proper consultation. Some say the design is out of keeping with the area, while others have raised concerns about parking and traffic.

Dramatic scenes as demonstrators go head to head outside Lake District mosque

Demonstrators who welcome the plans stood in front of the partially built site. (Image: SWNS)

One churchgoer told The Telegraph: "The bells are tradition. If they start calling from that new mosque, it would be unacceptable. I’m not racist, but everybody else around here feels the same.”

Another woman said: "There’s already nowhere to park. This will make it worse."

However, Conservative Deputy Leader of Westmorland and Furness Council, Matt Brereton, defended the plan. He said: "There is a sizeable Islamic faith community in the wider Furness area. I don’t really see an issue with them having somewhere to celebrate their faith."