KELVINGROVE, ENGLAND, December 16, 2005: A burger van owner who feared she’d be shut after complaints from Hindus about the smell of beef has been allowed to stay put. Elsie McLean, whose snack bar sits outside the the Hindu Mandir temple in Kelvingrove, launched a fight – including a 1,500-name petition – to keep her trading licence. Hindus, many of whom are vegetarian and who believe cows are sacred, wanted the van moved because the odor of sizzling beef was upsetting worshippers. But temple leaders were not aware of the correct procedures for objecting and their views were not even taken into account. Only objections from residents about early morning noise and from councillor Malcolm Green were heard. It emerged that since the van had been granted a licence by one council department (prior to the establishment of the Hindu temple), another had put in disabled parking bays around the burger van, making it impossible for the owners to move it yards either way. In the end, despite calls from the SNP for the licence to be suspended, no action was taken. Mrs. McLean, 39, said she was relieved at the decision, but said she would look at moving from the site in Clifton Street to “keep the peace.” She said: “This means I can carry on and it’s a big worry off my mind.” Temple committee member Vinod Sharma was furious at not being told the procedures. He said: “We knew nothing of having to write in. “I’ve been here for 50 years and I eat meat. Only strict Hindus are vegetarians. But the van is so close to the temple that the odors get inside.”
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