Funding shortfall delays Sikh temple: planning permission granted three years ago
Calls have been made for work to continue on the former pub The Ship Aground on Lea Bridge Road to convert it into a Sikh temple - Credit: Archant
The Sikh community is being urged to help raise £300,000 to transform a former pub into a temple for the community.
The Singh Sabha Gurdwara temple was granted planning permission three years ago, but has stalled because of a lack of funds.
Hackney Council granted change of use planning permission in 2012 to convert the Ship Aground pub in Lea Bridge Road, Lower Clapton - once notorious for drugs, noise and disorder.
The borough’s 2,000- strong Sikh community said it was needed after having to worship at temples outside the borough for the past 19 years, following the closure of a temple in Finsbury Park.
But the charity which owns the site needs £300,000 to finish off the work.
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General secretary, Sarjit Singh, said: “We are hoping to finish it off, we would like the Sikh community to make donations, so we can get this up and finished.
“Work is continuing but it’s a very slow process, the quicker the donations come in the quicker the building work can be completed.”
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“So far we have spent £300,000, we had the basement excavated to make a nice kitchen, and a main hall for ‘langar sewa’, which is food when it has been blessed and is a free meal for any person of any religion.”
Along with a prayer hall and library, the plan was to build a wedding hall, classrooms for teaching English and computer skills to immigrants. Residence for a priest or caretaker and a gym and a canteen are also part of proposals.
