Sikh's park vision
Sikh's park vision - News - Roundup - Articles - Slough Observer
A CONTAMINATED piece of land at the rear of Woodlands Avenue could be taken on by the Sikh Social Centre and turned into a local park.
Trustees at the Ramgharia Sikh Gurdwara centre are keen to take on the vacant land deemed surplus to requirements by Slough Borough Council.
Leading councillors agreed a deal at a meeting on Thursday.
The 3,900m2 - about an acre - patch of land is behind the Sikh Temple on the corner of Woodlands Avenue and Baylis Road, across the railway line from Salt Hill Park. It lies adjacent to the social centre and is bounded by the rear gardens of houses in Lake Avenue, the railway line and a Thames Water facility.
Officers decided it was not required after it was approached by parties interested in the site, including the Sikh centre. A planning application for industrial use on the site was recently refused on grounds of access and because most of the land is designated as flood plain.
Ravinder Singh Panesar, committee member of the social club, said he hoped the land could be cleared, re-planted with flowers and have seating added.
He said: "It's very near to our centre. It looks horrible and if the council approves us to have this land we are keen to make it a nice place for people to sit.
"Maybe in the future we can make a good plan for the land for it to be used by the community, not just Sikh people. It's a good opportunity to improve this area."
A report due to be considered by Slough's cabinet last night said the land was considered to have a risk of historic contamination from a stream carrying pollution from industrial sites in the past.
It would be the responsibility of the new occupier to investigate and clear the site.
Councillors were expected to delegate officers to negotiate a long lease with the Sikh centre and any future plans for the site would have to be approved by the council.
Sikh's park vision - News - Roundup - Articles - Slough Observer
A CONTAMINATED piece of land at the rear of Woodlands Avenue could be taken on by the Sikh Social Centre and turned into a local park.
Trustees at the Ramgharia Sikh Gurdwara centre are keen to take on the vacant land deemed surplus to requirements by Slough Borough Council.
Leading councillors agreed a deal at a meeting on Thursday.
The 3,900m2 - about an acre - patch of land is behind the Sikh Temple on the corner of Woodlands Avenue and Baylis Road, across the railway line from Salt Hill Park. It lies adjacent to the social centre and is bounded by the rear gardens of houses in Lake Avenue, the railway line and a Thames Water facility.
Officers decided it was not required after it was approached by parties interested in the site, including the Sikh centre. A planning application for industrial use on the site was recently refused on grounds of access and because most of the land is designated as flood plain.
Ravinder Singh Panesar, committee member of the social club, said he hoped the land could be cleared, re-planted with flowers and have seating added.
He said: "It's very near to our centre. It looks horrible and if the council approves us to have this land we are keen to make it a nice place for people to sit.
"Maybe in the future we can make a good plan for the land for it to be used by the community, not just Sikh people. It's a good opportunity to improve this area."
A report due to be considered by Slough's cabinet last night said the land was considered to have a risk of historic contamination from a stream carrying pollution from industrial sites in the past.
It would be the responsibility of the new occupier to investigate and clear the site.
Councillors were expected to delegate officers to negotiate a long lease with the Sikh centre and any future plans for the site would have to be approved by the council.
