Around twenty thousand people have signed a petition which opposes the proposed sale of a building which houses the Bharat Hindu Samaj Mandir temple in Peterborough. This comes following the city council’s approval of the sale of the New England complex where the temple is situated. Campaigners claim that the decision risks forcing the closure of what many people call the city’s only Hindu temple and are calling for the sale to be reconsidered.
Background and history
The temple, which is situated on Rock Road in the Millfield area of Peterborough, has operated since 1986 and helps cater to Hindu worshippers from Peterborough and the surrounding counties. It is recognized as a significant community center and is used by an estimated 13,000 to 18,000 Hindus from across the region. It also hosts religious services, including major festivals, weddings, funerals, and cultural events.
Youth programs and support services are also arranged at the venue, and these will be forced to stop if the building is sold.
The institution acts as both a place of worship and an important cultural and social hub that helps maintain community cohesion and develop relations between different cultural groups. Peterborough City Council approved the sale of the New England Complex as part of a programme to sell council assets and raise funds to address financial pressures. The council says the property was marketed through a competitive bidding process to secure the best value for taxpayers.
Potential solutions
Temple leaders say they had hoped to purchase the building themselves after negotiations with the council but were unsuccessful in the bidding process. Some councilors and community representatives have raised concerns about the impact the sale could have on the Hindu community. In the United Kingdom, Hindu temples are typically run by charitable trusts or community organizations that are responsible for managing the property, governance, and activities of the temple.
Council response
Potential contacts for comment include Kishor Ladwa, president of Bharat Hindu Samaj Mandir, and Rasila Panchal, a trustee of the temple. Both have spoken publicly about concerns regarding the sale. Councilor Mohammed Jamil, Peterborough City Council cabinet member for finance and corporate governance, has defended the sale as part of efforts to manage council finances. Peterborough City Council has decided to sell the Bharat Hindu Samaj temple building to an Islamic mosque group, a move Hindu worshippers are objecting to.
High Court judge Mr. Justice Fordham has ordered a temporary injunction against the sale. The court will now decide what happens next once the temple group and council have set out their cases in writing.
A council spokesperson said, “We are aware of the legal action being pursued and will now engage in the legal process.” A temple spokesperson said they had “no choice” but to apply for the injunction, adding that “we wanted a negotiated halt to proceedings, which would save us time and money.”
The spokesperson criticized the council, arguing the authority had refused to engage in negotiations and accusing it of acting in bad faith. “Our fight is not with the mosque. Our fight is with the council,” they added.
In a statement, the council added, “Council officers continue to liaise with all affected parties in this matter.” The High Court has now stepped in to help halt the temple’s sale.
Members of the Save Peterborough Temple group welcomed the decision. Bob Blackman said he was delighted the High Court had stepped in to halt the sale of Peterborough’s Bharat Hindu Samaj Temple. He said he had raised the issue back in October and argued that the Labor council’s decision was wrong then and remains wrong now. He added that a community that has served 14,000 worshippers for nearly 40 years deserves better.
The temple can be contacted at Bharat Hindu Samaj Mandir, Unit 6 New England Complex, Rock Road, Peterborough PE1 3BU. The telephone number is 01733 315241 and the email address.
