July 24, 2013: Proposed new parking restrictions on a road that was part-bought by a Hindu temple have been approved.

The Hindu Cultural Society of Bradford bought a section of Knowsley Street, Barkerend and received planning permission to change its use from a public highway to a private car park.

Gates were also put up to stop traffic getting through from Leeds Road to Upper Seymour Street. The car park belongs to the Lakshmi Narayan temple.

Last night, councillors on the Bradford East Area Committee approved proposals to introduce double-yellow lines on sections of Knowsley Street either side of the car park gates.

Councilor Imran Khan, , deputy chairman of the committee and a Labour councillor for Bowling and Barkerend, said the restrictions were needed so coaches could get to the temple and would no longer clog up parking spots on Leeds Road.

He said: “The lines are the minimum to allow coaches access. There is still parking on Knowsley Street.

“And I think there is sufficient parking on Leeds Road to cope with the loss of parking on Knowsley Street.

“The temple has bought Knowsley Street and they have blocked it off.”

A spokesman for the temple said coach parties of school children regularly visited the temple.

An objection was received from the Salvation Army’s regional estates surveyor. The Salvation Army has a building on the corner of Knowsley Street and Leeds Road.

It said the Salvation Army was unaware of the road closure and would have objected if it had known about it.

It also deemed the new waiting restrictions unnecessary as it would take away parking spaces from the Salvation Army building, restricting visitors to their premises.

The Salvation Army also proposed a one-way system instead of the gates.

Coun Khan said: “People from the temple have been good neighbours. It is unfortunate that there has not been contact between the Salvation Army and the temple.”