£1million temple jackpot

AN AMBITIOUS plan to build an elaborate Sikh temple in Bedford has received a massive shot in the arm with a £1m Lottery grant.

News of the £934,122 windfall from the Millennium Commission was met with delight by leaders at the Guru Nanak Gurdwara in Queens Park, who are leading a huge fundraising drive to build the £2.2m project within five years.

Assistant secretary Baldev Singh Rupal said: “It is very exciting for everyone. It has taken a lot of hard work, but it will be something Bedford can be proud of.”

Architect Amrish Patel said the building is based on the Golden Temple courtyards in Amritsar and will be the only example of pure Sikh architecture outside India.

It will act as a pilgrimage point for Sikhs across the Midlands and it is expected people of all faiths will visit, including schoolchildren who already arrive by the coachload to further their studies.

When finished the temple will cover 10,000 square feet and rise to 68 feet at its highest point, featuring one large golden dome and eight smaller ones.

A second element of the project, which had to overcome a series of planning hurdles at the start, involves refurbishing the existing community centre.

Read the full story in this week's Times & Citizen.

 Published: 6.7.01 © Bedfordshire Newspapers Ltd

from www.westmidlands.com

New MP praises city

By London Editor John Hipwood

Labour MP Rob Marris has paid tribute to the people of Wolverhampton for their hard work in creating a multicultural city where different ethnic communities live in harmony.

In his maiden speech in the Commons after his election as MP for Wolverhampton South West last month and in the wake of the Bradford riots, he said his constituency was both a multicultural and multi-faith community.

"It is well served by the Inter-Faith Group and by Wolverhampton Race Equality Council. As well as many Christian churches, we have four Sikh gurdwaras, five mosques, a Hindu temple and a large Buddhist temple," said Mr Marris.

"Long may our communities continue to live in harmony. That harmony has come about only because of the hard work of many people from all the communities and from many spheres.

"In Wolverhampton, we celebrate our diversity because it enriches us all."

Turning to other city matters, Mr Marris voiced his opposition to the proposed takeover of Wolverhampton and Dudley Breweries by the Pubmaster chain.

"My constituency is the home of Banks's, the largest independent brewer in the country, which is sadly now facing a most unwelcome takeover bid," he told MPs.

He paid tribute to his predecessor, Jenny Jones, for her hard work on human rights as a member of the Council of Europe, and for her work for the constituency.

And in keeping with tradition, he described some of Wolverhampton's important institutions, kicking off with the Wolves.

"After 40 years, we are still waiting for renewed success," he told MPs.

7.7.01