A LEADING ethnic community spokesman has hit out at council chiefs -- claiming they are ignoring the needs of Muslims in Chorley.

Najeeb Raza, from the Chorley Muslim Welfare Society, believes Asian families living in the borough are getting a raw deal.

He claims the Muslim community is finding it very difficult accessing and understanding essential council services, as information leaflets are only printed in English.

In a bid to highlight the situation, Mr Raza is now asking senior council officers to consider printing council literature and forms in Bozugh -- the community language spoken in Chorley.

And he has also complained that the council's housing allocation policy does not give due consideration to the traditions, culture and family system within the Muslim community when housing is being allocated.

Mr Raza explained: "For more than 30 years, Asian people have contributed to society by providing businesses, textiles, restaurants and they have served at Chorley hospital as doctors.

"Why is it that council officers are unable to identify the needs of Asian people?

"The Labour government talks a lot about social exclusion, but Asian families are being marginalised right here in Chorley." He added: "Another problem is that the joint family system is very important to our culture and religion.

"Unfortunately, families are being fragmented by being forced to live apart because of the size of houses in Chorley -- it's part of our faith to accommodate our elders, who in turn provide direction and morals to our children."

Councillor Mel Coombes, chairman of Chorley's ethnic minorities consultative committee, lent weight to Mr Raza's comments.

He said: "For quite some time, the Asian community living in Chorley have felt they have not been able to gain access to main-string council services.

"This is a situation we as a committee have taken very seriously. I'm also sure that Chorley Borough Council are making moves to look into the situation."

The council's head of sports, arts and community development, Jamie Carson, added: "We at the council have a very positive working relationship with the Chorley Muslim Welfare Society, and in particular, Mr Raza.

"We have recently had outreach sessions in the Steeley Lane area which were available to the whole of the community.

"Mr Raza has written to the council asking for a meeting which we have responded to. We have an excellent on-going dialogue, looking at ways we can work together on these issues."

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