New roof brings £1.4m Darlaston temple closer to completion

The building on Pinfold Street, which will serve the Shiri Guru Ravidass Cultural Association of Darlaston, was originally set to be completed in 2013.

But the work suffered a major setback when a coal mineshaft was discovered, which required stabilising.

Now the project is back on track and the large structural work is mainly completed.

Founder trustee and president of the association Ram K Mehmi said: "This is a milestone for Ravidassia community in Darlaston, the UK and internationally.

"The roof timber work has been completed and has been passed by the building regulation inspector and now the roofer has started placing tiles on to the roof.

"The tower clock will be mounted on the roof very shortly which will be talk of the town."

"There was a big battle with the mine shafts which had to be treated and had to be capped to satisfy the coal board. There was another hurdle due to the softness of ground but again work on that was completed smoothly."

The Shiri Guru Ravidass Temple will replace the former building which had become too cramped for worshippers and was demolished.

The congregation which boasts around 40 people have since been meeting every week at the town's All Saints' Church in Wallsall Road.

They have also been given the use of another room at the temporary venue to keep their holy book the Sri Guru Granth Sahib.

The new temple will be seen as an international attraction which will be able to accommodate up to 500 people.

When finished it will form the centrepiece of a multi-million pound revamp of Pinfold Street which has also seen an NHS complex built alongside new flats.

Mr Mehmi added: "I am very grateful to the All Saints Church committee and previous priest John Barnett who allowed us to carry out our religious practice at their hall.

"This great Shiri Guru Ravidass Temple will certainly improve the environment of the town and the surrounding area."