Oxford’s only Sikh Temple, or Gurdwara, faces closure after it failed to obtain planning permission for an extension.
The Gurdwara, located on the ground floor of 69 Cherwell Drive in Marston, acts as a community centre for Sikhs in Oxford. It has been used as a temple for the past three years.
Priya Atwal, President of the Sikh Society at the University, believes this threat of closure “damages Oxford’s reputation as a city that can accommodate for a diverse set of students.”
The extension was added to the bottom floor of the house to create space as the temple aims to provide services to all members of the community. For example, it will give a meal to anyone who asks for one.
It is claimed that the elderly couple who own the property, and who allow it to be used as a temple, did not realise that planning permission was needed for the extension. Although they applied for retrospective permission, Oxford City Council rejected the application.
The Council also rejected an application for the building to be officially changed from a place of residence to a place of worship.
Further problems arose when residents stated that they were unhappy with the congestion caused by the Gurdwara. Nearly 100 residents signed a petition opposing the planning application.
The Council gave the temple six months to close down and find a new location. However, due to a shortage of funds, this has not been possible.
The planning application was refused on the grounds of parking problems and noise disturbance to the neighbours.
In an interview with Oxford Mail, Councillor Graham Swift commented, “The problem with anything on Cherwell Drive is the amount of traffic and parking that would be generated. Planning permission should be given before building work is carried out – and where that doesn’t happen a strong line should be taken, or there would be chaos.”
On Monday, there was an appeal hearing, and the Council went to review the location. They have told the temple that they will make a decision in the next seven weeks.
Mr Singh, head of the Committee at the Gurdwara, stated that he would “like the Council to reconsider their position. We can only move with the help of the council, if they can give us a grant or find us an unused building to use.”
The temple is a focal point in the Oxford Sikh community, and it is used by many members of the University. The Sikh population in Oxford is quite small, and its size is greatly affected by the number of Sikhs in each new year group.
Atwal explained that the temple was important to Sikh Oxford students.”Several of our students visit the Gurdwara regularly to pray and help out within the local Sikh community. We feel that there should be somewhere for Sikh students to worship just as there is for students of any other faith.”
She further commented, “We must remember that many students from all over the world come to study at Oxford University. Taking away Oxford’s Gurdwara might discourage future students from wanting to come here as they cannot worship, like in other University cities.”
