Sikh community centre in Leamington ‘will not sell alcohol’

Members of the Sikh community in Warwick district protest against plans for a new community centre at the Gurdwara in Leamington.

Anger amid other Sikhs in the area at the mention of the word ‘bar’ in the original planning application for the centre - which if approved would be built next to the Gurudwara on Tachbrook Park Drive - led to what has been described as a ‘peaceful protest’ outside the Gurudwara on Saturday, which attracted the interest of Indian television stations.

One of the people at the protest who declined to be named - and who estimated that more than 300 people turned up - told the Courier: “Alcohol and meat is forbidden within the Sikh religion: it would be an utter outrage if this was to take place on any Gurdwara Sahib site. There has been a complete failure of governance and good practices being followed.”

But Satnam Bains, chairman of the Gurudwara’s sports and community centre committee, who estimated that less than 40 people were at Saturday’s protest, said: “The word ‘bar’ has been removed from the application. It has been misconstrued and taken out of context by the protestors and was in reference to non-alcoholic drinks.”

To view the application, visit www.warwickdc.gov.uk and search the planning section using the code: ‘W/14/0164’.