Meat plant near gurdwara: Sikhs go to British court

In a bid to stop a meat processing plant coming up right next to a gurdwara in the British city of Bradford, members of the Sikh community have decided to go to court, the Telegraph and Argus newspaper reported Wednesday.

Worshippers at the Guru Gobind Singh Gurdwara, which fronts on to Leeds Road, objected to a proposed expansion by a neighbouring supermarket chain, Pakeezah, which wants to convert a car workshop in Percival Street into a wholesale meat plant, the newspaper reported.

The supermarket chain received approval for the plan from the Bradford City Council in August, despite opposition from the Sikh community, many of whom are vegetarian.

"We were left with no other choice. We feel very offended by this attack on our religious sensitivity and must fight for our cause," Govinder Singh Dhaliwal, general secretary at the gurdwara, was quoted as saying.

The group has now applied for a judicial review against the council's ruling, which could delay work for the meat plant by 12 months.

More than 200 members of the Sikh community who visit the gurdwara lodged formal objections to the supermarket's plans.

Dhaliwal said the group was "very unhappy" that its pleas were rejected by the council.

"A judicial review application has been submitted, challenging this decision, and a judge's decision is awaited as to how this matter will be dealt with. In the meantime, any work carried out is, of course, at the owner's own risk," said Julian Jackson, the council's assistant director for planning, transportation and highways.

Pakeezah director Tariq Haq said in August that the meat plant was an extension and would "not affect the temple in any way, shape or form". He, however, refused to comment once the Sikhs decided to take their complaint to court.