Islamic university plans shelved

Oct 7 2010 West Lothian Courier

PLANS to build an Islamic University on the site of Bangour Village Hospital have been shelved after details of the bid were leaked.

Last week the Courier exclusively revealed secret talks had taken place between a Birmingham-based Islamic Trust, NHS Lothian and West Lothian Council about basing a residential university on the site of the abandoned hospital.

A delegation from the Mohiuddin Trust visited West Lothian last week and met with council planning officials as they toured the site near Dechmont.

A council source confirmed to the Courier that talks had taken place and thought that the meetings had gone well.

However, after details of their plans were leaked a spokesperson for the Mohiuddin Trust said it had abandoned its plans.

They said: “Mohiuddin Trust had shown an interest in the premises but has since revoked this plan indefinitely.”

It will be a blow to NHS Lothian who have been trying to flog the site since the hospital closed six years ago.