A threatened judicial review against plans to turn a former library in Abergavenny into a mosque has been withdrawn. Three Monmouthshire county councillors and a resident had sought to block the decision, backed by the Christian Legal Centre, but have now abandoned their challenge.
The Conservative councillors Louise Brown and Rachel Buckler, alongside independent Simon Howarth, had previously failed to reverse the council's decision through its call-in procedure. They were joined by local resident John Hardwick in sending a pre-action letter in September, warning of legal action unless the council withdrew the 30-year lease to the Monmouthshire Muslim Community Association.
Monmouthshire County Council confirmed it received notification that the judicial review would not proceed. A council spokesman stated, “The council has absolute confidence in its decision-making and governance arrangements,” adding that any attempt to frustrate the democratically agreed position would be met with an appropriate challenge.
The Grade II-listed building, constructed in 1905 with Carnegie Foundation funding, was declared surplus to requirements in November 2022. It had housed a library until 2015 and later served as a pupil referral unit. The Labour-controlled cabinet voted in May to lease the site to the Muslim Community Association for use as a community centre and mosque.
Christian advocacy group Christian Concern had backed the legal bid, demanding a new transparent tender process. The council had responded to the initial ultimatum, leading to the challenge being called off.
