A council proposal to sell the premises housing Peterborough’s sole Hindu temple has stirred widespread unease and resistance within the British Hindu community. This action is seen as jeopardizing a vital spiritual and cultural center that caters to over 13,000 individuals in eastern England. MP Bob Blackman has brought this matter to the attention of the Mayor.
Established in 1986 at the New England Complex in Peterborough, the Bharat Hindu Samaj Mandir has been a central hub for Hindus from Cambridgeshire, Norfolk, and Lincolnshire for close to forty years. The complex, currently owned by the Peterborough City Council, is now slated for public sale as part of the council’s strategy to reduce public debt through asset liquidation.
Insight UK, an organization that represents British Hindu and British Indian communities, recently highlighted the issue to Mayor Paul Bristow through MP Bob Blackman. Blackman, who chairs the Hindu All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) and advocates for religious freedom and multiculturalism, emphasized to Bristow the significant impact the loss of the Mandir would have on thousands of families and the community at large.
The temple trustees had offered to purchase the property for a sum between £800,000 and £1.3 million to secure its future. However, they were subsequently informed that the council intends to auction the building to the highest bidder, a decision that has left the Hindu community deeply disheartened according to temple president Kishore Ladwa.
Beyond its role as a place of worship, the temple serves as a venue for religious celebrations, educational activities, health initiatives, and charitable endeavors. Members of the community express profound sadness at the prospect of losing this integral part of their lives, with many feeling betrayed by the council’s decision.
Peterborough City Council has clarified that no final decisions have been made yet. Mohammed Jamil, the cabinet member for finance, acknowledged the importance of the Bharat Hindu Samaj to the city and expressed regret over the current uncertainty. Community leaders are urging the council to reconsider the sale and find a solution that preserves the Mandir as a symbol of cultural unity and inclusivity within the city.