Slough council 'cannot give preferential treatment' over Hindu temple campaign

Campaigners hoping to turn Wexham Court Parish Hall into a Hindu temple have been told they cannot get ‘preferential treatment’ to buy the building – despite a petition signed by almost 4,000 people.

The parish hall, in Norway Drive, is owned by Slough Borough Council and leased to Wexham Court Parish Council.

The building was added to a list of assets the borough council could sell in March, after the parish council expressed an interest in buying it outright.

When this was announced, a petition was put forward requesting that the council allocates Jeeyar Educational Trust UK ‘preferential sale’ status to buy the hall and turn it into a Hindu community hub – without the normal competitive bidding process.

The petition gathered 3,827 signatures from residents.

At a council meeting at Observatory House on Thursday (September 25), members debated the petition.

Lead petitioner Chandra Kondepudi said: “We are here not only for the Hindu community but also to strengthen Slough as a whole because it is very important to have this community centre.”

Mr Kondepudi said Slough’s Hindu population is ‘steadily rising’ and the community hub would be used to put on charitable events, celebrations during festivals, exercise sessions and organised food banks.

Councillors showed their support for the petition but recognised that the council is ‘bound by the law’.

Cllr Dhruv Tomar (Con, Slough Central) said: “As we know, Slough is one of the most diverse towns in the country and our strength comes from ensuring that every community has fair representation.

“But when we look at the numbers it is clear that the Hindu community is underrepresented.

“This petition is not just [about] one building, it’s about fairness, it’s about recognising contribution and it’s about making sure every community in Slough feels seen, supported and represented.”

But the leader of the council, councillor Dexter Smith (Con, Colnbrook and Poyle) said the local authority ‘cannot give preferential treatment in this way’.

Cllr Smith said: “We do greatly appreciate the contribution of the Hindu community to Slough’s cultural life.

“[But] our community assets policy only allows us to give preferential treatment to organisations that have a lease or connection with the property.

“We have a legal duty to get best value for any asset that we sell.

“We are committed to giving first consideration to Wexham Court Parish Council. We desperately want the continuation of the council’s activities there.”

He said Wexham Court Parish Council has been leasing the hall from Slough Borough Council since the 1970s and has shown an interest in purchasing the hall.

The hall is leased to the parish council until 2032.

But Councillor Smith did add that the council will remain in contact with the petitioner in case any other properties across the borough become available.

Cllr Chandra Mavvala (Ind, Langley Marish) said: “I welcome the petition. It is good to see more residents actively working with our local authority to shape Slough for the better.

“But it is a disappointment [for] Jeeyar UK to learn at this late stage that they cannot purchase Wexham Court Parish Council Hall.”

Cllr Ejaz Ahmed (Con, Slough Central) agreed that the council’s assets policy often ‘slams the door shut’ on residents.

Cllr Ejaz Ahmed said: “The petition reflects the general feeling in our borough. We need rules and policies that protect the borough but also unlock opportunities for overgrowing communities in Slough.

“Too often communities find a building, but the rules and requirements slam the door shut.”