SWAMINARAYAN TEMPLE IN NEASDEN AND PARKING DURING FESTIVALS

Early day motion 1848, tabled 4 November 2002 by Barry Gardiner (Labour). Signed by 29 members.

That this House notes that the Swaminarayan Hindu Temple is one of the largest and most beautiful mandirs anywhere in the world outside of India, and that each year during Diwali and other festivals, visitors regularly number more than 50,000 per day and that provision has been made for a number of years for additional parking facilities to accommodate worshippers, by Brent Council on the local recreation ground; further notes that negotiations between the Temple trustees and Brent Council to formalise this arrangement, with the Temple paying to create a hard standing all weather pitch for community use in return for parking at festival time, appear to have broken down; and urges Brent Council to resume negotiations that will be to the benefit of the Hindu community, local people and wider community relations.

Signatures by party: Labour 21, Conservative 3, Labour/Co-operative 3, Liberal Democrat 1, Scottish National Party 1.