1 hour ago
3
ARTICLE AD BOX
TOI Correspondent from London: Dozens of Hindus from Peterborough travelled to London for a landmark precocious tribunal proceeding connected Wednesday successful which a Hindu temple successful Peterborough is bringing a judicial reappraisal challenging the metropolis assembly implicit its determination to merchantability the tract the temple is located connected to a section mosque.A tribunal overflow country had to beryllium acceptable up to accommodate the Hindus.In 1986 Peterborough metropolis assembly had granted Bharat Hindu Samaj (BHS) a lease of portion 6 of the New England Complex, Rock Road, Peterborough for 25 years.From astir 2017 the assembly has been engaged successful negotiations with BHS to research the anticipation of a transportation of tract to BHS to alteration its continued usage arsenic a Hindu temple with associated assemblage uses.
It hosts schoolhouse groups, vegetarian luncheon clubs, connection activities and taste activities.On April 6, 2025, BHS made a £1. 3m connection (minus societal worth of services it offers astatine £504,000 arsenic calculated by the council) to bargain the tract it had been a tenant connected for 40 years.On May 23, 2025, the United Kingdom Islamic Mission (UKIM), an funny enactment successful the tribunal case, which has a mosque successful Peterborough, submitted an connection to acquisition the spot for astir £1.3-£1.
4m. UKIM besides offered “to bushed immoderate existing currency connection by up to 5%”.UKIM provided the assembly with a papers outlining its connection to redevelop the full tract by constructing a caller gathering to beryllium known arsenic “The Khadijah Centre", making wide that the lone spiritual facilities projected were for the Muslim assemblage and it was nary portion of the UKIM’s volition to let the existing Hindu temple to remain, the tribunal was told.On Sept 9, 2025, the assembly decided to advancement the disposal of the spot by inviting bids with a deadline of Oct 13, 2025. On Feb 10, 2026, the assembly furniture announced it would merchantability the tract to UKIM.In Wednesday’s proceeding Toby Fisher, representing the BHS, said helium was calling for the assembly determination to beryllium quashed arsenic it was not “lawful”.Fisher said: “We are not arguing that a lawful process would person resulted successful the BHS getting it, but arsenic a 40-year sitting tenant and 1 of the bidders representing much than 14,000 Hindus successful the East of England, the claimant was denied a lawful process and lawful decision, truthful we question arsenic a remedy a quashing order. We accidental it was evident and should person been made wide to the furniture that the precise apt effect of the Feb determination was that the claimant would beryllium required to vacate the spot with nary capable alternate premises available, and that would truthful interaction those with protected diagnostic of Hindu religion and their quality to practise their religion.
”He says officers knew the palmy bidder could get vacant possession and planned to redevelop the premises, but did not pass the furniture who made the decision.
