Worshippers at a Hindu temple in Peterborough have said they are “heartbroken” at the prospect of losing their spiritual home after their second attempt to buy the site was unsuccessful.
The Bharat Hindu Samaj Temple, which serves nearly 14,000 people, has operated from the city’s New England Complex since 1986. Recently, Peterborough City Council agreed to sell the site to an undisclosed bidder as part of efforts to balance its budget.
Ekta Patel, the temple’s vice-president, said the community had “left no stone unturned and knocked on all doors” in a determined effort to secure the site, but were left feeling “disgruntled” by the outcome.
Mohammed Jamil, the council’s cabinet member for finance and corporate governance, said the authority recognised the strength of feeling within the community and would continue to engage with those affected. “We fully understand the concerns of the Hindu community and will continue to work with them and the building’s other tenants,” he said.
Located on Rock Road, the temple attracts worshippers from across Peterborough as well as Cambridgeshire, Norfolk, Lincolnshire and Leicestershire. Trustees had offered £1.3 million to purchase the site, which is also home to six other tenants, including the Peterborough Soup Kitchen. The temple had been in negotiations with the council since 2011 and fundraising for several years.
Patel said the decision came as a shock given the scale of public support. “It’s a very emotional time for us. There are no words to describe how we truly feel,” she said. “Many of our congregation are pensioners who have dedicated their lives to keeping this place running. It is very difficult for them to lose it.”
Trustee Gauri Chaudhary said the sale represented more than a property transaction. “It is a focal point of cultural and spiritual life created entirely through community effort,” she said, adding that supporters across the country had rallied behind the temple.
In a statement, the temple committee warned the impact would be “immediate and significant”, particularly for elderly members who risk losing a “crucial lifeline”.
Jamil said the building was being sold with tenants in place and their lease rights would be protected.
