Blueprints revealed for Buddhist ordination hall
LONG-AWAITED plans for a traditional Buddhist ordination hall have been filed to Halton Borough Council.
Wat Phra Singh temple on High Street wants to build the ‘Ubosot’ in the yard at the back.
The application submitted to Halton Council said the hall will be used for prayer and meditation, as well as acting as an evacuation centre in an emergency.
Should it go ahead, the project will include the installation of hall, entrance gate, pedestrian access gate and a ramp access.
A design statement said ubosot halls are traditional ordination halls used in Thai Buddhism, and that the Runcorn ubosot will also fulfil this function.
Eight sacred ‘sema’ boundary stones would be fitted around the site perimeter if the project goes ahead, plus one under a picture of the Buddha.
The hall is expected to be set on three levels: a prayer and ordination floor, a monks’ stage and a Buddha stage.
Its walls are anticipated to be decorated with images depicting stories of Buddha’s life and teachings.
An environmental statement statement said the plot of land is not within any of Runcorn’s historic landfill sites, and therefore does not present any decontamination issues.
The scheme has been simmering for years with provisional plans revealed back in 2016, when temple founder Tony Collacott said he hoped the ubosot would become a ‘major tourist destination’.
Wat Phra Singh has already proven a major location for Buddhism in the North West, with festivals traditional Thai holidays attracting devotees and practitioners from far and wide to its bustling events, which until now have been at the mercy of the weather and a marquee.
It also has strong links with its parent temple in Thailand and hosts Thai monks.
Halton Council is aiming to decide the matter by March 10.