The Shree Kutch Satsang Swaminarayan Temple in Woolwich faces a community crisis as Greenwich Council prepares to remove free parking outside its premises, a move temple leaders describe as a “slap in the face.” However, many residents on St Margarets Grove welcome the change, citing all-day commuter parking problems.
Temple fears parking restrictions will fracture community
The temple, located on St Margarets Grove, submitted a petition with over 800 signatures opposing the removal of free parking, but leaders feel their concerns have been ignored. The council’s Sustainable Streets programme will introduce resident parking permits on the road, operating from 8.30am to 6.30pm, seven days a week, along with pay-by-phone areas and disabled bays.
Temple representative Dinesh Hirani said the unpaid community service, known as seva, has sustained the temple for 40 years. He warned, “It’s just very unnecessary and we are most worried about the future of the seva that we’ll get in this temple which is probably going to diminish, if I’m being honest.”
Worshippers say they feel unheard
Priya Bhanderi, a parent with young children, said the restrictions would make it difficult to maintain routines for her neurodivergent son, who finds peace at the temple. She stated, “We feel like we don’t have a voice, like we’ve not been heard.” The temple attracts worshippers from as far as Dartford, Gravesend, and Ashford, and leaders fear these visitors will stop coming.
Nilesh Pindoria added, “Now all of them will slowly disappear which will affect them and the temple together. It will have a very big impact for us.” The temple had suggested reducing permit hours to 11am-3pm on weekdays only, but says these ideas were ignored.
Residents welcome permits but some face exclusion
Martin Roberts, a resident of 26 years, said, “We want the parking permits to be here because we can no longer park on our road.” He noted that commuters using the nearby Elizabeth Line often park all day. However, John Kirk, whose flat is on the corner with Plumstead Common Road, is ineligible for a permit due to his address, leaving him worried about where to park.
Other residents like Mark Amis are “50/50” on the plans, while Wendy Quinnell is glad restrictions are coming because of commuter parking. The council says it has balanced the views of both parties, with Cllr Calum O'Byrne Mulligan stating, “The inclusion of disabled bays and a number of non-residential paid parking bays outside the temple was an effort to balance the views of both residents and the temple.”
Greenwich Council has not yet confirmed when the changes will take effect, though new road markings are already painted on St Margarets Grove.
