SWINDON Borough Council says it is committed to the continued search to find a new place of worship for the Hindu community. 

The pledge comes after Labour put forward calls for a report detailing how and when premises for a temporary and a permanent temple can be found in the town.

The borough council ended the lease on the previous temple in Darby Close with immediate effect in October following a fifth break-in.

It said that due to the level of damage the facility was unfit for occupation.

In Thursday night’s full borough council meeting, a motion was voted through that said: “This council commits to continuing the regular meetings it has been holding prior to the temple closure, to support the Hindu Temple Trust in their search for a new location.”

Labour leader Jim Grant, who put forward the original motion, said: “The Hindu community in this country has made huge contribution. They are an important part of our community and they deserve a place to worship”.

“I want to see how we can go forward with this. The community was promised a new place to worship, so can we please embrace the whole Hindu community, because there is a much wider reason for establishing a temple in Swindon”.

He added that there would be economic benefits to finding a new temple, and that it would put Swindon on the map in Asia. 

Coun Imtiyaz Shailk added: “Labour was more than happy to support the amendment, because there is a community that is struggling.”

But Conservative councillors claimed the issue was being unnecessarily politicised.

As well as the meetings with the Temple Trust, the council said meetings had also taken place with other Hindu and South Asian faith and community groups who have expressed an interest in finding an alternative community and worship facility, both as a medium term and long term permanent location. 

Vinay Manro, Conservative councillor for Priory Vale said: “The council and this administration have already been actively meeting with the temple trust and have shown and offered premises.

“I know because I attended one of the viewings myself as a councillor, and I have had many discussions with Coun Keith  Williams.

He suggested the move was misleading to councillors and the public reading the agenda, attending the meeting, or watching on the live stream. 

Coun Rahul Tarar added the motion is asking for “something very much already in process.”

Councillors heard introductions have been made to private sector landowners who might be able to help with the search.