Sikh temple gets go-ahead for children's nursery

A Sikh temple has been given permission to use part of its site as a children's nursery.

Telford Gurdwara in Priorslee said it wanted to "maximise its benefits" for the community.

A plan to hold weddings for up to 881 guests was recently rejected over concerns about traffic management.

Planners at Telford & Wrekin Council said that the Abbey House site had 109 car parking spaces, while the applicant estimated that the nursery would create 40 trips per day - 20 each for arrivals and departures.

The gurdwara (Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji Gurdwara) near Priorslee Roundabout already has permission for a games area and children's playground.

Planners have said the play area must be developed before the nursery to provide outdoor space.

The opening hours of the nursery would not coincide with any event taking place at the gurdwara, and would make use of an "under-utilised" part of the building, the application said.

It added that the facility would be "open to the general public, as well as existing members of the congregation/Sikh community".

At weekends the plan is to use it as a creche where children will be "looked after and learn about the Sikh faith, its history and its teachings while their parents go to worship" or attend ceremonies in the main gurdwara.

Council planners said: "It is understood that the area in question is currently only occupied during ceremonies or events at the site, providing space for the marriage registry and areas for religious learning.

"However, during the weekdays this space is not required for these purposes."

Planning agent Richard Jewkes of Simpatico Town Planning Limited had told the council that the proposal was aimed at improving facilities at the site, and extending the contribution which the gurdwara makes to the local community.

This news was gathered by the Local Democracy Reporting Service which covers councils and other public service organisations.

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