'Landmark' Preston pub to become Islamic education centre for blind youngsters

Owners of the Acregate Hotel, in New Hall Lane, have been told they can go ahead with plans to convert the former Boddingtons alehouse in an ambitious scheme originally launched after it closed down in 2010.

The Al-Qalam Tarbiyah charity wants to open the building as an Able To Learn Centre where disabled youngsters, particularly blind children, can study the Quran.

The city's Muslim community has raised the cash to buy the building on the corner of Acregate Lane and wants to convert it into an education centre for students whose learning is restricted by illness or disability.

The imposing Acregate pub pulled its last pint a decade ago due to declining trade after more than 100 years in business on busy New Hall Lane.

An application to convert it into a non-residential education centre was first submitted to Preston Council in 2010, but refused due to highway safety issues and a lack of parking. A second application also failed to make it through in 2011 for similar reasons.

But plans were finally passed in 2015 and then 2017, but expired. Now the charity has again been granted permission for the latest scheme which also includes a rear extension and a covered walkway.

In the planning application the building is described as "a prominent landmark in the immediate area."

Architects say: "The property has been vacant for an appreciable time, suggesting that it is not viable (as a pub). The building is an attractive design with some interesting architectural features, albeit rather neglected due to the long-term vacancy."

The A-Qalam Tarbiyah charity says it plans to open the centre during the day (10am-4pm) for just two students and one teacher and also run evening classes between 4.15pm and 7.15pm for up to 15 students and two teachers.

The idea for an Able To Learn centre came from concerns expressed by the father about a lack of facilities in Preston where his blind son could learn the Quran.

A local Islamic scholar consulted a friend who runs a blind school in Africa and expertise from that institution helped to give the boy lessons in Preston using braille.

"In the Muslim faith every child learns to read the Quran in Arabic generally at Arabic classes held every weekday evening between 5pm and 7pm," says a report. "It is extremely rare to find an able-bodied Muslim child not attending Arabic classes from the age of five until early adulthood.

"Although the ill and disabled are excused from practising some aspects of the religion which they are unable to due to their disability, accepting this position would deprive a person from practising their beliefs because of a disability - a situation which in a developed society is no longer considered acceptable."

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