A heated debate is brewing in Abergavenny! The historic library, a beloved 120-year-old building, could soon become a mosque, sparking legal action threats from local councillors and a resident. This decision to lease the building to the Monmouthshire Muslim Community Association has raised eyebrows, with some claiming the process wasn’t transparent.
Councillors Louise Brown and Rachel Buckler, alongside Simon Howarth and resident John Hardwick, are considering a judicial review. They’re backed by the Christian Legal Centre, arguing that a new, transparent tender process is needed. The annual lease is reportedly just £6,000, which some feel is unfair for such an important civic asset.
Councillor Buckler insists this isn’t about religion but about fairness and transparency. It’s about treating every organisation equally, she says.
On the other side, Reverend Gareth Wilde, a retired Baptist minister and town councillor, supports the lease. He argues that the local Muslim community deserves a dedicated place of worship, especially since they’ve been renting a church hall. He highlights Abergavenny’s history of religious freedom and non-conformism as a backdrop to this debate.
The council’s cabinet is standing firm on its decision. They argue that without planning permission required and the community association taking on maintenance responsibilities, the lease is fair.
Adding another layer, tensions escalated when the building was defaced with anti-Muslim messages ahead of a council meeting.
What’s your take, Abergavenny? Should the library become a mosque, or is a new process needed? Let us know your thoughts!