Oxford's first Hindu temple has further plans submitted

Leaders of the county's 5,000-strong Hindu community have been hiring rooms in schools and community centres for worship, and have been campaigning for a purpose-built temple in the city for 16 years.

The Oxford Hindu Temple and Community Centre Project (OHTCCP) agreed to a 26-year lease with Oxford City Council on the pavilion last March.

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It followed more than three years of negotiations with the city council and a successful bid made when the building went on the open market.

Plans to turn the football changing rooms at the derelict sports pavilion at Court Farm Place in Marsh Lane in Marston into two halls, one as a place of worship, and the second as a place for community gatherings were approved by Oxford City Council last July.

A new planning application seeks permission for external changes to the 1970s pavilion, including masonry repairs, replacement of timber cladding with cement wall cladding, new windows and doors as well as a replacement roof.

It also seeks permission to provide car parking, two electric vehicle charging points, bin and cycle storage and alterations to landscaping arrangements.

A planning document states: "OHTCCP was established to cater for the needs of over 5,000 Hindus in Oxfordshire.

"Currently they have no premises of their own in the entire county, and they hire a Community Centre to run monthly communal religious services. This arrangement is sub-optimal."

It says in parking terms, the pavilion's previous use and the proposed use "are not too dissimilar" and "parking concerns were raised but addressed in the approved application".

The parking and travel mitigation items are eight additional parking spaces including one disabled parking space and 28 cycle spaces.

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A travel plan which promotes walking, cycling and public transport, car sharing schemes, use of local public transport "plus the capacity of the local public car park render any counter argument to parking and travel issues void".

The building will also be used as a social hub for the elderly and vulnerable, for English language lessons, yoga and well-being classes, music and culture sessions host food kitchens.

Members of OHTCCP, which is a charity, received the keys to the site from Oxford City Council leader Susan Brown earlier this month during celebrations for Holi.

Dr Gian Gopal, founding chairman of OHTCCP, said: "Work has now started to clear out the inside and the build the necessary halls, utilities and rooms."