Sikh charity seeks end to church-only rule

A charity blocked from converting a church into a Sikh temple has asked for a historical rule to be scrapped.

Granted 44 years ago, the rule means the former Wednesfield Methodist Church on Wood End Road can only be used as a church and hall.

Miri Piri Afghan Charitable Trust has asked City of Wolverhampton Council to remove the restriction, arguing it prevents the empty building being used by other faith groups and community organisations.

"The local planning authority must determine whether a condition imposed in 1982 continues to serve a planning purpose in 2026, rather than merely because it formed part of the original permission," a statement included with the application said.

An application to convert the empty former church, which closed in 2017, into a nursery was rejected twice by City of Wolverhampton Council in 2022 and 2023.

The council said the plans for the 42-child nursery would create too much traffic in an already congested area and result in the loss of a community meeting space.

A move by Miri Piri Afghan Charitable Trust to convert the former Methodist church into a Sikh temple was also rejected in 2024 for similar reasons.

In its latest proposal, the charity added: "The condition prevents use by other Christian groups, other recognised religions, inter-faith organisations and community organisations.

"The restriction is unusually narrow and goes significantly beyond what is required to protect residential amenity.

"There is no planning evidence that occupation by another Christian denomination, another religion, or a wider community organisation would inherently give rise to harm.

"Any impacts arising from the use of a building are normally assessed through traffic generation, parking demand, noise, hours of operation and intensity of use.

"The denomination or faith affiliation of a user does not itself create planning harm."

This news was gathered by the Local Democracy Reporting Service which covers councils and other public service organisations.

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