Hindu temple search BACKED by Swindon Council
The temple on Darby Close was permanently closed in October following several break-ins
Swindon Borough Council says it is committed to the continued search of finding a new place of worship for the Hindu community.
The pledge comes after Labour put forward calls for a report, detailing how and when premises for a temporary and a permanent temple can be found in the town.
The borough council ended the lease on the previous temple in Darby Close with immediate effect in October, following a fifth break-in.
It said that due to the level of damage, the facility was unfit for occupation.
'Hindu community in this country has made huge contribution'
In Thursday night’s full borough council meeting, a motion was voted through that said: "This Council commits to continuing the regular meetings it has been holding prior to the Temple closure, to support the Hindu Temple Trust in their search for a new location".
Labour leader Jim Grant, who put forward the original motion, said: "The Hindu community in this country has made huge contribution. They are an important part of our community and they deserve a place to worship.
"I want to see how we can go forward with this. The community was promised a new place to worship, so can we please embrace the whole Hindu community, because there is a much wider reason for establishing a temple in Swindon".
He added that there would be economic benefits to finding a new temple, and that it would put Swindon on the map in Asia.
Coun Imtiyaz Shailk added: "Labour was more than happy to support the amendment, because there is a community that is struggling".
'How many meetings have Labour been involved in?'
Conservative councillors strongly criticised the motion, with several claiming the issue was being unnecessarily politicised.
As well as the meetings with the Temple Trust, the council said meetings have also taken place with other Hindu and South Asian faith and community groups who have expressed an interest to find an alternative community and worship facility, both as a medium term and long term permanent location.
Vinay Munro, Conservative councillor for Priory Vale and cabinet member for Organisational Excellence, said he was "embarrassed" by the motion from Labour, which he said was "politicising the matter," before going on to criticise the opposition group further.
Coun Munro said: "The council and this Administration have already been actively meeting with the temple trust and have shown and offered premises. I know because I attended one of the viewings myself as a Councillor, and I have had many discussion with coun Keith Williams Cabinet Member for Climate Change, Finance and Commercialisation.
"How many meetings have Labour been involved in? Yet they have the audacity to call a motion believing they know exactly what is going on".
Coun Munro went to say that the motion was "misleading" to councillors, the public reading the agenda, attending the meeting, or those that watched on the live stream.
Coun Rahul Tarar added the motion is asking for "something very much already in process".
'The Hindu community have nowhere to worship in the town'
The Amended motion in full:
"This Council notes that since the withdrawal of the lease on premises at Cheney Manor Industrial Estate the Hindu community in Swindon have nowhere to worship in the town.
"This Council recognises that the previous site had to be closed on health and safety grounds as the result of an independent report and that viewings of two alternative sites took place the following day, one of which was made available for them to move in to the following week.
"This Council commits to continuing the regular meetings it has been holding prior to the Temple closure, to support the Hindu Temple Trust in their search for a new location.
"Meetings have also taken place with other Hindu and South Asian faith and community groups who have expressed an interest to find an alternative community and worship facility, both as a medium term and long term permanent location. Introductions have also been made to private sector landowners".