'Flood risk' temple work allowed

Building work is continuing at the Apple Tree Farm site

Permission has been granted for building work to continue at a new Hindu temple, despite fears it could make flooding in the area worse.

The Gurjar Hindu Union has planning consent for the three-acre site at Ifield, Crawley, but the council wanted more car parking and flood precautions.

Ted Beresford-Knox, head of planning, said councillors were satisfied with the measures now being taken.

But resident Bill Salsano said it was "crazy" to build on a flood plain.

The Ifield area flooded on 13 December when the River Mole burst its banks, prompting West Sussex County Council's leader Henry Smith to call for an urgent flood risk and drainage assessment.

Flooding in the area is something that needs to be dealt with on a much wider basis Ted Beresford-Knox Animated footage of the temple

"This area floods very very quickly, with no warning," said Mr Salsano.

"There could be a situation where there were 1,300 people inside the temple who would be unable to get out.

"All the risk assessments in the world will not alter the fact that they are allowing a temple to be built in a proven flood plain that floods regularly."

Crawley Borough Council's development control committee gave approval on Tuesday evening to allow work at the Apple Tree Farm site to continue.

"The issue was partly the parking, and the applicants came back with a much larger car park so that was okay," said Mr Beresford-Knox.

"The other issue has always been whether the new temple and community centre might increase the risk of flooding."

The Ifield area flooded in December when the River Mole burst its banks

He said the floor level of the temple had been raised and there was a safe way out if it flooded.

The ground level outside was also being lowered so that water could "pond" on the site and reduce the potential for flooding in the surrounding area.

"Flooding in the area is something that needs to be dealt with on a much wider basis," Mr Beresford-Knox said.

"The Environment Agency are trying to address the fact that water comes quickly down from the south of the town and causes flooding when it meets the first obstruction, which are the bridges on the western side of Crawley."

The temple is due to be completed in August.

Pink sandstone and marble has arrived from India to clad the building, with craftsmen due to begin the stonework in March.