Neasden Temple in parking row

About 250,000 people visit the temple every year

Religious leaders have condemned a local council decision which they claim will stop celebrations at a Hindu temple during the busiest times of its calendar.

Neasden Temple in north west London is one of the most famous in the country and attracts about 250,000 visitors every year.

During the most popular times of the year, like Diwali - the festival of light, worshippers have been allowed to park in Gibbons Recreation Ground which is across the road from the temple.

But the local authority, Brent Council, has said it wants to develop the ground to provide leisure facilities for the whole community.

Sports grant

It has already been given £102,000 from Sports England, which uses lottery money to fund sports projects.

But the council has been told by the organisation that it will lose the funding if it continues to let people from the temple park there.

At a special meeting on Monday night the council will make the parking ban permanent.

This is despite the temple willing to contribute to the redevelopment of the recreation ground.

This is not about race or religion. This is about providing facilities for one of the poorest communities in the borough and the country

Brent Council spokesman

Tarun Patel, spokesperson for the Neasden Temple, said: "We are willing to contribute the sum of £400,000 to develop Gibbons Recreation Ground and we only want to use it for 10 days a year.

"We are fully behind the development of the ground but without those parking facilities, it will be very difficult for worshippers to attend the temple."

A spokeswoman for Brent Council said they have been in discussion with Neasden Temple for the last two years over the parking space, which the temple was given temporary use of in 1995.

The council said Gibbons Recreation Ground is the only open ground the local community and residents have objected to people parking on because it is then ruined, especially when it rains.

The spokeswoman said the council offered alternative options such as a park and ride scheme or building an all weather pitch.

"The temple was given until June 24 to respond to our negotiations and nothing has been forthcoming," she said.

"This is not about race or religion. This is about reducing congestion in an area that is just off the busy North Circular and providing facilities for one of the poorest communities in the borough and the country."