Oxford Sikhs told to quit using 3-bed semi as a temple (From Oxford Mail)

Oxford Sikhs told to quit using 3-bed semi as a temple

4:30pm Friday 23rd January 2009

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A RELIGIOUS community in Oxford is reeling after the city council ordered members of its congregation to stop worshipping at a house in Marston.

The city’s Sikh community has been meeting at 69 Cherwell Drive to pray for nearly three years.

But they have been told to find a new home after planning councillors ruled against a retrospective application to officially change the use of the building from a place of residence to a place of worship.

Oxford City Council’s north east area committee also ordered the owners of the property to demolish a single storey extension to the building.

They have six months to comply.

Father-of-five Pargan Singh, 49, who lives nearby in Cherwell Drive, estimated there were 80 Sikh families living in Oxford and that up to 40 met at the property every Sunday, although the property – the Sikh community’s only place of worship in the city – was open for prayer 24 hours a day.

He added: “The whole community is upset by the council’s decision. If the enforcement is carried out we will be on the street in six months – we will be chucked out.

“I can understand the council’s position because it’s a residential street, but we feel we have been forgotten.

“I’m sure the council has got plenty of properties lying idle.

“We are not asking for handouts. Sikhs are very hard-working people and we can contribute financially to looking after a property. We just need a place or we can’t practise our religion. We need help.”

The Sikh community bought 69 Cherwell Drive in February 2006.

The property’s three bedrooms are rented out to pay the mortgage, while the downstairs is used for meetings and worship.

City council planning officers recommended the planning application for refusal because of parking problems and noise disturbance to neighbours.

Nearly 100 residents also signed a petition opposing the application.

Parish councillor Dr Graham Swift said: “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.”

City councillor Mohammed Altaf-Khan spoke in favour of refusing the application at the north east area committee meeting on Tuesday, although he pledged to help the congregation find a new home.

After the meeting, he said: “I can clearly see there’s a need for the Sikh community to have its own place.”

Fellow committee member David Rundle voted against the recommendation to refuse the application.

He said: “My personal view is that we should show a bit more warmth towards the Sikh community.”

Mr Singh said the congregation would gather at 69 Cherwell Drive tomorrow to decide whether to appeal against the decision.

tshepherd@oxfordmail.co.uk

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