HARE KRISHNAS LOOK TO MOVE INTO FORMER LEICESTER CITY CENTRE BANK

From today's Leicester Mercury:

Hare Krishnas look to move into former Leicester city centre bank

A former bank could become a new home to Hare Krishna worshippers whose temple was destroyed in a gas explosion.

The International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) has been without a permanent base since its premises in Thoresby Street, North Evington, Leicester, was wrecked in September.

Now devotees have set their sights on the former HSBC offices in Granby Street.

The grade II-listed building, completed in 1874, has stood empty for two-and-a-half years since the bank moved its operations to Enderby.

The Hare Krishnas hope to breathe new life into the building.

They have lodged a planning application to change the use of the building from a bank to a place of worship, with a vegetarian restaurant, creche, offices and bedsits.

They also want to use the building, with its impressive hall, to host weddings.

ISKCON spokesman Pradip Gajjar said: "It has been a pretty tough 10 months for us since the explosion but we hope that the bank will be a fairytale ending."

More then 30 people were in or near the Thoresby Street building, when it went up in flames following the explosion on September 3, but nobody was injured.

Since then, about 200 worshippers have been gathering on Sundays at the rented East West Community Project, in Wilberforce Road, Leicester.

Mr Gajjar said the bank was pointed out to them as a potential home but had been unaffordable until two wealthy benefactors, who do not wish to be named, offered to buy it for them.

He said: "These are two guys who came over to Leicester in the early 70s from East Africa and made the city their home.

"The Lord blessed them and the city looked after and sheltered them and now they want to give something back.

"They said that if we thought this was the right place for us they would, between them, buy it for us.

"For a number of years we have been looking for a new place – even before the fire – and their generosity allows us to look at this really exciting possibility.

"It is a beautiful building, architecturally stunning, that carries a lot of heritage and we think we can make very good use of it."

Mr Gajjar did not wish to say how much it would cost.

Stuart Bailey, chairman of Leicester Civic Society, said: "I'm all in favour of old buildings getting new uses and there was a fear that the magnificent old bank could have been left to fall into disrepair.

"A building of that size and age brings with it a considerable responsibility in terms of maintenance but if the Krishnas are willing to take that on, I'll be pleased.

"Changing the use from the bank is not a problem but if they want to do anything to the internal or external structure they may have a problem because of the restrictions that come with listed status."

Mr Gajjar said the society still hoped to rebuild the Thoresby Street centre even if the HSBC plan succeeded.