London, Jul 13: A 40-year-old Hindu temple in the UK city of Peterborough has approached the High Court against a local council’s decision to sell the land on which it operates to a mosque, triggering a legal dispute that has also stirred concerns within sections of the local community.
The Bharat Hindu Samaj (BHS) temple, established in 1986 by families expelled from Uganda during Idi Amin’s regime, has been functioning from the New England Complex for nearly four decades. The temple serves around 14,000 Hindus and is said to be the only Hindu place of worship within a 35-mile radius.
The dispute began after Peterborough City Council decided in 2025 to sell the property as part of efforts to reduce its estimated £500 million debt. Temple trustees claim they had reached an agreement to purchase the site for £1.3 million, but allege the council instead placed the property on the open market and selected the Khadijah Mosque, operated by the United Kingdom Islamic Mission (UKIM), as the successful bidder.
Following public objections, the council reconsidered the decision but reaffirmed the sale in February. The temple community subsequently secured a court injunction and raised more than £119,000 through a crowdfunding campaign to pursue legal action.
During the High Court hearing, counsel representing the temple argued that the council’s decision-making process was unlawful and breached the Equality Act 2010, contending that insufficient consideration had been given to the significant impact the temple’s closure would have on the local Hindu community. The council defended its decision, maintaining that the sale followed a transparent, fair and lawful bidding process, while its legal representatives rejected allegations of discrimination.
The mosque organisation has said it has outgrown its existing premises of nearly four decades and intends to establish a larger community and worship centre comprising prayer halls, classrooms and sports facilities. Representatives of both the temple and the mosque have stressed that the dispute should not be viewed as a conflict between two faith communities but as a legal disagreement over the sale process.
The issue has nevertheless generated unease among sections of Peterborough’s Hindu community. A WhatsApp message circulated ahead of the court hearing alleged discrimination and criticised the community for remaining “too silent” in the face of what it described as unequal treatment.
Peterborough City Council leader Shabina Qayyum acknowledged that the proposed sale had caused anxiety within the Hindu community and said the council was exploring alternative premises to ensure the temple could continue its activities. However, temple trustees maintain that no suitable alternative site has been identified.
Several community members said the uncertainty surrounding the temple’s future has revived painful memories of displacement, with some drawing parallels to the experience of families who were forced to leave Uganda more than five decades ago. The High Court is expected to decide whether the council’s decision-making process complied with legal and equality obligations before the sale can proceed. (Agencies)
