No special status for Hindu community in hall sale

The future of the hall was discussed by Slough borough councillors

Campaigners who want to buy a council owned hall and turn it into a Hindu community hub will not get preferential treatment in the sale.

The Wexham Court Parish Hall in Norway Drive is owned by Slough Borough Council and has been leased since the 1970s to Wexham Court Parish Council, which has also shown an interest in buying it.

A petition of nearly 4000 signatures is calling on the borough council to give the Jeeyar Educational Trust UK "preferential sale" status so they can avoid the normal competitive bidding process.

In March the hall was added to a list of assets Slough council could sell. It said it supported the Hindu community but was "bound by the law" to get the best value it could.

Borough council leader, Dexter Smith, said the authority could not show preferential treatment to the trust.

"We do greatly appreciate the contribution of the Hindu community to Slough's cultural life," he said.

"[But] our community assets policy only allows us to give preferential treatment to organisations that have a lease or connection with the property.

"We have a legal duty to get best value for any asset that we sell.

"We are committed to giving first consideration to Wexham Court Parish Council. We desperately want the continuation of the council's activities there."

The parish council has a lease for the hall until 2032.

But Chandra Kondepudi, who led the petition, told the council: "We are here not only for the Hindu community but also to strengthen Slough as a whole because it is very important to have this community centre."

The petition was signed by 3,827 residents before it was presented to the authority.

Mr Kondepudi added Slough's Hindu population is "steadily rising" and the community hub would be used to put on charitable events, celebrations during festivals, exercise sessions and organised food banks.