Waltham Forest Council has ordered the Confucius and Tao Association (CTA) to stop using the Lord Brooke, in Shernhall Street, as a temple, reports Sebastian Mann, Local Democracy Reporter
An unlicensed Buddhist temple operating out of a former pub in Walthamstow has been ordered to close by Waltham Forest Council.
The Confucius and Tao Association (CTA) bought the Lord Brooke, in Shernhall Street, in 2014 but was refused planning permission to convert the building into a place of worship the following year.
Contemporary reports described its purpose as promoting the teachings of Buddhism, Confucius and the Great Tao through public seminars, while working to tackle poverty and racial tension.
The council’s planning committee refused the charity’s application in early 2015, saying the use of the building as a pub was a “valued part of the social infrastructure of the area”.
Despite the town hall’s decision, the TCA appears to have gone ahead with the conversion.
It is unclear when the venue began being used as a place of worship. There is no formal signage for the temple, only for the associated Lotus Bloom Café, and historic remnants of the Lord Brooke are still in place more than a decade on.
Waltham Forest lodged a planning enforcement notice in late April, demanding the charity stops the “unauthorised use of the land and buildings as a place of worship, associated community centre, and ancillary café” and ceases “all gatherings, events and educational classes”.
It has also been ordered to remove “all fixtures and fittings” associated with the temple and, once that step has been completed, to clear all debris and waste from the site.
The CTA has appealed to the Planning Inspectorate, a national government body that adjudicates on the planning system. It handles cases that range from home extensions to plans for thousands of new houses.
A Waltham Forest spokesperson said: “Planning laws are designed to control the development and use of buildings to benefit the public. We enforce these regulations to maintain and enhance the unique character of our town centres and neighbourhoods as well as to protect the integrity of the planning system.
“The council served an enforcement notice at 47 Shernhall Street on Thursday, 30th April after identifying a breach of planning control regarding the building’s usage. We are aware an appeal has been lodged with the Planning Inspectorate and as such the notice is currently suspended until they have come to a decision.”
The Lord Brooke – branded a “drug haven” in 2014 by the Metropolitan Police – was shuttered after evidence of drug use was found all over the venue.
The CTA was approached for comment.
Local news needs your support
We are proud that we were at the forefront of reporting on the recent local elections. We can’t do this without the support of our readers.
Independent news outlets like ours – reporting for the community without rich backers – are under threat of closure, turning British towns into news deserts.
If our coverage has helped you understand our community a little bit better, please consider supporting us with a monthly, yearly or one-off donation.
ACT NOW!
Monthly direct debit
Annual direct debit
£5 per month supporters get a digital copy of each month’s paper before anyone else, £10 per month supporters get a digital copy of each month’s paper before anyone else and a print copy posted to them each month. £50 annual supporters get a digital copy of each month's paper before anyone else.
More information on supporting us monthly or annually
More Information about donations
