EXCLUSIVE Inside the sleepy Lake District town torn apart by mosque row: Neighbours turn on each other in bitter split over £2.5m Islamic centre plan
But suddenly this historic Cumbrian market town of just 8,000 residents finds itself bitterly divided - with a number of increasingly angry protests making waves.
The issue that has sparked this abrupt change of mood is the proposed construction of the 'South Lakes Islamic Centre' - a three-storey mosque currently taking shape on its outskirts.
What began as a simple planning application by a group of Muslim doctors based at nearby Barrow-in-Furness hospital this week led to far-right protesters and counter-protesters waving placards and flinging insults at each other.
The £2.5million project, which proposes to cater for some 50 Muslim medical staff and their families, has triggered outrage among some residents, while others have rallied to defend it as a symbol of tolerance and progress.
Sheila McLarnon, 77, a chiropodist who has lived in Dalton for decades, has banned customers from discussing the mosque at her home clinic, located a stone's throw away.
She accused some locals opposing its construction of racism.
Mrs McLarnon said: 'I'm disappointed in the attitude of people round here and it comes down to racism.
What began as a simple planning application by a group of Muslim doctors based at nearby Barrow-in-Furness hospital this week led to far-right protesters and counter-protesters waving placards and flinging insults at each other
'I'm a chiropodist. I've got a clinic here at the house and I won't let my patients say negative things about it because they'll come in and say, "What about the bloody mosque then?"
'One man even said, "Oh, it's just going to be a bomb-making factory".
'That is the kind of thing they've decided is going to come to Dalton and it's obviously just nonsense.
'There are legitimate concerns about parking and access, but sadly this area is quite racist and I think that's the root of it.'
Husband Gerry, 77, a retired police officer, added: 'We are committed Catholics and nobody's ever tried to stop us going to church. I think it's just a minority making the trouble.'
The South Lakes Islamic Centre say the building will serve Muslim families who currently must make the 100-mile round trip to the nearest masjid in Lancaster.
They say its construction has faced repeated obstacles – including local suppliers allegedly refusing to deliver materials.
The debate over the mosque, built outside of the boundaries of the Lake District National Park, has pitted neighbours against each other.
Near to the mosque, a man, who did not want to give his name, said: 'People are falling out over this. There are neighbours who don't speak to each other anymore, because they've been called racist.
'These are people who have been friends for years. All falling out over a b****y mosque. I think it's daft. It's getting built and we all need to get on.'
In recent days, protestors have turned out waving Union Jacks and Knights Templar flags outside the construction site. Their demonstrations were matched by counter-protests from anti-racism groups.
Among those in the town to oppose the development was businessman Gary Peaker, 54.
He said he was perplexed as to why the mosque was being sited in Dalton - two-and-a-half miles from the General Hospital in neighbouring Barrow-in-Furness.
He claimed the 'majority' of people in the town were against the development and accused council officials of failing to properly consult.
Planning permission was granted in December 2022 after 30 representations were made, and construction began earlier this year.
Mr Peaker said: 'Dalton is a tiny little town with an even smaller contingent of people who would actually go there.
'Yet this mosque is three storeys - it's huge. It's an absolute eyesore.
'I feel sorry for the people who have their houses nearby because it's going to wipe thousands off the value of those houses.
'There are plenty of buildings in Barrow that could have been repurposed, rather than building it here.
'People here feel that they've been excluded from the planning process. They want to see the building work stop and the planning application fully reviewed.'
The South Lakes Islamic Centre charity said the new building would serve both the local Muslim community and visiting tourists.
It will also allow 'professionals, business communities and other trade workers who will need basic prayer, burial, teaching and community facilities'.
A neighbour, who asked not to be named, accused the centre of going beyond what it had initially planned to build.
She said: 'When it first started, we got a little flyer through the door. It read: "Hello, brothers, we want to buy this land".
'Well, we thought it was a joke, to be honest. I've got nothing against a mosque but what is being built is just way out of proportion.
'From what we know, there were three better sites nearer the hospital in Barrow and the council rejected them all because they didn't want the mosque in Barrow.
'And so they've shoved it into Dalton and in completely the wrong place.
'This is a busy road. There's been so many people killed on this road over the years. Where are all these cars going to park?
'The council has just been so secretive and duplicitous. Getting any answers out of them has been impossible.
'I am very grateful for the Muslim doctors and the nurses, very grateful. But this is in the wrong spot.'
Sarah Coltherd, 29, a care worker, said she disagreed with those campaigning against the mosque.
She said of the protesters: 'They're happy to have a Muslim doctor look after them in hospital – they've got no problem with that.
'Why is it a problem allowing them to have somewhere to pray? They completely have the right to practice their religion.'
Linda Greaves, 75, said she believed there was a 'racial element' to opposition of the mosque.
She added: 'It's being built and it's going to happen and I think people just need to get on with it.
'They're not going to stop work now. Everyone's got their own opinions on it. I think there's probably a racial element to it.
'But, personally, I have no issue. It's not going to affect me.'
Passing the mosque, a jogger who asked not to be named, said he was ashamed of the far-right protests, which he said were composed of 'people bussed in from outside' rather then locals.
He said: 'Normal Muslims are the same as normal Christians. They are peaceful people who put their families first and are law-abiding.
'I feel sorry for the neighbouring houses because, sadly, I don't think this an issue that will go away.
'It can't be nice living there in relatively expensive houses and having trouble on your doorstep. They're the people I feel sorry for.'
In late March, the representative for South Lakes Islamic Centre alleged there had been delays in the delivery of material to the site due to negative coverage on TV.
In a YouTube video, a representative from the organisation said work to pour concrete into the foundations had been 'delayed' and that 'local suppliers have refused to deal with us'.
'The concrete, which was supposed to come this week, has been delayed because of the GB News coverage,' the video alleged.
'It's just the challenges we face; it's a difficult area to build, but we are progressing very quickly.'
The spokesman claimed some quarries had also 'declined' to give stones to the centre.
Construction for the place of worship has continued since the alleged delays.
Residents have previously voiced their concerns over social media for the construction of the mosque.
One said: 'Absolute monstrosity in the Lake District.'
Another said: 'Absolutley DISGUSTING * total blot on the landscape * totally unwelcome * how on earth has this been passed in planning.'
One other resident said: 'There's goes the beautiful Lake District - with a huge building plonked there.'
Mandy Penellum, secretary of Barrow's Trades Council, is among those to have voiced support for the Islamic Centre.
She said previously: 'There is a narrative here that's been perpetuated - that the Islamic Centre's not welcome - and that's not everybody's view by any stretch of the imagination.
'We've always been a welcoming and tolerant community here and people have come out to show that. You only have to look at Furness General Hospital, with staff from all over the world - it's important everybody has a space to worship.
'The centre is also going to be an asset for community use and I think it's really important that people understand that and acknowledge the fact that we're all human beings, we all have a right and a space to pray.'
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