BUILDERS may have to demolish boundary walls on the site of a temple after breaking planning regulations.

Work on the external walls of the Guru Nanak Darbar Gurdwara, off Khalsa Road, Gravesend, came to a halt in August after a resident complained about the height.

Under planning regulations, boundary walls can be constructed as long as they remain under 2m in height.

Planning permission must be applied for if higher walls are needed.

Prior to August, the boundary walls on the east and north of the Sikh temple, stood at 2.1m and 2.4m respectively and no planning application had been made.

Gravesham Council planning officers contacted the building team and ordered it to down tools.

Gurdwara architect, Calfordseaden then submitted a retrospective planning application.

Planning officers, who fear the walls could attract graffiti artists, considered the application on October 12 but delayed a decision until a site visit takes place on Saturday.

Valerie Docksey and four other residents of Alanbrooke, which borders the eastern part of the site, made formal complains to the application.

The 56-year-old said: "What's the point of making a planning application when the walls are already there? They should have done it before.

"There's not much which can be done now. It makes me annoyed."

Planning committee member Councillor Bronwen McGarrity also complained about the height of the walls after residents raised concerns.

She said: "It has all been done retrospectively which is annoying residents as rules have been broken."

She admitted if planning permission was not granted the walls may have to be knocked down.

Grudwara architect Teja Biring said: "We didn't get planning permission because we didn't think it would be an issue in the first place. It is only a bit above 2m.

"What we have done is not out of the ordinary and even if we take the wall back down to 2m, Alanbrooke residents will still be able to see it."

GURDWARA FACT FILE

A Gurdwara is a Sikh temple used for worship, learning, meeting and socialising.

Planning permission for the Gravesend Gurdwara was granted in October 2001.

There are 6,379 Sikhs living in Gravesham borough 6.6 per cent of the total population.

The temple is being financed by the Sikh community, which has so far raised £3m towards the cost.

An estimated £6m is needed to complete the project.

It has three floors and when it is complete it will have three prayer rooms, two kitchens and two function suites for ceremonies including weddings.

It will allow 300 people to pray together in each prayer room.

Community members hope the temple will open its doors in 2008.