£1.4m Gurdwara build clocks up milestone
A £1.4 million project to build a Gurdwara in Darlaston has moved a step closer after the building's clock tower was put in place.
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 another big step forward for us and the whole congregation is delighted that we have our clock in place.
"It is a real milestone because you can clearly see now that the building is coming together.
"Ideally this would have been done a while ago, but we are now on track.
"In a years time, everything should be done and ready to go.
"I would like to thank all of our members who have helped us get to this point, especially the Sal family, from Hill Top, who made a generous donation towards our clock in loving memory of their father."
The new Shiri Guru Ravidass Temple will replace the former building which had become too cramped for worshippers and was demolished.
The congregation has around 40 members, most of which turned out to see the clock put in place, in recognition of the development meeting an important milestone.
While the work has been going on the worshippers have 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.
Mr Mehmi said: "Our temple will be a place of worship not just for local people but people from all over the world.
"Our aim is to improve the environment of the town."
When finished, the temple will form the centrepiece of a multi-million pound revamp of Pinfold Street which has also seen an NHS complex built alongside new flats.
The plans were first announced back in 2008 and initial estimates but the cost in the region of £700,000 but subsequent complications, including the mineshaft, have seen that figure double.
