Watford Velmurugan community set to move to North Watford

The Watford Vel Murugan Trust, which is currently based at Woodside, looks set to move into the former Beechwood Family Centre in North Watford.

Watford Borough Council granted permission this week to turn the former community centre into a place of worship and council documents state this would be occupied by the Vel Murugan Hindu Temple.

The ex-family centre has been empty for a number of years permission has been sought for use of the building for two years.

Planning papers say two services a day, between 11.30am and 9pm, are set to take place at the new building with up to 30 or so worshippers attending.

Letters were sent to 38 neighbouring properties and no objections were received.

Former Beechwood family centre on the corner of Leggatts Wood Avenue and St Albans Road, Watford. Credit: Google Maps

The Vel Murugan community are currently based at a former bowls club at Woodside Playing Fields.

A political row broke out towards the end of the summer after a petition was launched to save the temple after members said it had been told it needed to leave Woodside by September 17.

Prashanth Elangovan, a spokesperson for the temple and a Conservative council candidate in Watford, had accused the Liberal-Democrat run council of trying to shut the temple down and sought the support of

the town's Tory MP Dean Russell.

The petition was signed by more than 10,000 people. An agreement was reached with the council in January to extend the stay in Woodside until February 28.

Watford' mayor Peter Taylor said when the temple moved in 2019, it was on the understanding it was a "temporary solution" after the community had to leave its former home on the town's ring road.

After permission was granted to turn Beechwood Family Centre into a place of worship, Mr Taylor said: "We have been working closely with the Vel Murugan Trust to support their search for a new place of worship. I am very pleased that Hertfordshire County Council have agreed a lease on the former family centre on St Albans Road which will become a temple for the local Tamil community.

"It’s important that people of different faiths in our town have spaces where they can come together for their acts of worship and community activities."

Mr Russell said: "I am delighted that the Vel Murugan Trust has been able to find a new home in Watford. It is really important that people of faith have somewhere to participate in communal worship, and I very much look forward to visiting them in their new home."

North Watford Labour councillor Asif Khan said: "I’m hopeful the temple will play a strong role in the local community and I know of many local residents who will be attending the temple."