Meat Plant Firm given Go Ahead to Open Next to Bradford Sikh Gurdwara

:dateline:Yesterday a food firm was just barely granted permission to open a meat plant beside a prominent Sikh temple in Bradford � despite fierce opposition by worshipers,but the business owner said afterwards that the decision �didn�t feel like a victory� with so many people left upset and pledged to do what he could to mitigate its effects.

Food firm Pakeezah applied to convert a non working car workshop on Percival Street, into a wholesale meat plant. �The site is near the Guru Gobind Singh Gurdwara building fronts on to Leeds Road and hundreds of Sikhs, many of whom are strict vegetarians, objected. �It was standing room only as protesters packed into the Bradford Area Planning Panel for a tense meeting yesterday with more people demonstrating outside City Hall with placards.

Barrister Kuljeet Singh, representing the Sikh community, said hearing carcasses being cut up would upset worshipers at prayer. �He said: �The purity and sanctity of the Gurdwara is going to be seriously undermined and that will have an effect on the right of Sikhs to worship.�

Pakeezah director Tariq Haq told the panel the plant would create no disturbing smells or noises. �He said: �If we get permission today, I would like to go to the temple in six months and say ��Has it affected you in any way whatsoever?� And it won�t.�

Mr Haq said it was important to him to maintain good relations with his neighbors. �He said: ��I�ve grown up with Sikhs all my life. �When I found out there were concerns we went straight to the temple.�

At the meeting yesterday, councillors were split down the middle. �Counselors Malcolm Sykes, Imran Khan and Alan Wainwright wanted the plan to be refused. �Coun Khan said: ��I�m a proud Muslim but I would find it very difficult to pray with someone chopping a pig up literally 20 meters away from me. �To me, that would be offensive. �I think what we need to realize is, �for the Sikh community this is the same thing.�

But Councillors Shabir Hussain, Keith Dredge and Zameer Shah were content to approve it. �Coun Dredge said: �My beliefs dictate that people can believe what they want and worship what they want and I don�t wish to interfere with that in any way, shape or form. ��But I don�t feel that this would impact on the worship at the Sikh temple.�

It was left to the casting vote of the chairman, Coun Hussain, who decided to approve the plan. �There were angry comments from objectors as the decision was announced and one panel member suggested security guards could be called. �After the meeting, Mr Haq said: �The decision doesn�t feel like a victory because people are upset. �But we want to do everything in our power to make a plant that won�t affect the temple.�