A halal meat plant planned for a site beside a prominent Sikh temple in Bradford is being fiercely opposed by worshippers, who feel it disrespects their religious beliefs.

Food firm Pakeezah wants to convert a disused car repair workshop in Percival Street into a modern wholesale meat plant and its proposal is being recommended for approval at Tuesday’s Area Planning Panel.

But Bradford’s Sikh community fears the redevelopment could mean the smell of meat wafting into the Guru Gobind Singh Gurdwara building, which fronts onto Leeds Road.

“Many of our people are strict vegetarians and the notion of meat being so near to the temple is disrespectful and insensitive,” said Dr Kuldip Bharj, secretary of the Board of Bradford Gurdwaras which oversees the local Sikh community. “The analogy of putting a pork butcher beside a mosque or synagogue is a good one.

“Although we do not eat halal meat, we do not condemn it as repugnant because we do respect other religions. It is really that the smell of meat is very offensive for people who don’t eat it.”

Dr Bharj said there were also concerns that beef might be processed at the site, which is only yards from the temple boundary.

“The cow is viewed as a sacred animal and beef is prohibited in Sikhism as it is in Hinduism,” she said.

The Guru Gobind Singh Gurdwara is the largest place of worship for Sikhs in the north, said its president Kuldeep Duley. In a letter to Council planning officer Mohammed Yousef, he wrote: “A butchery plant should be on an industrial estate rather than next to a place of worship and community centre where people will be exposed to the disgraceful smell and noise.

“We are also concerned the wash from the plant will feed rats in the drains, increasing the rodent problem already in the area.”

Pakeezah director Tariq Haq said he was keen to allay any fears.

“We would never dream of doing anything that might cause offence to our neighbours and many of our customers are Sikhs,” he said. “After it was wrongly said initially that there would be an abattoir, we went to the temple and explained the details.

“Firstly, in 40 years we have never bought a beef carcass and our business is only in chicken, mutton and lamb.Also, this will just be a butchery like the one we already operate just a few feet away and have done for 20 years “It will be modern and hygienic with no smells, as all the product arrives below 4 degrees C. We have also had a noise report done which satisfied the council.”

A Council spokesman said: “We recognise there are significant concerns and opponents will have their chance to put points to the planning committee on August 13.”