Source: This Is Gloucestershire
Meditation, teaching and peace will bring serenity to a corner of Cheltenham after plans to convert Whaddon Lodge were approved.
The half-timbered building, which sits in a corner of Whaddon Park opposite Cheltenham Town's football ground, was sold earlier this year by Cheltenham Borough Council to the Akanishta Buddhist Centre. And the religious group has been given permission by the council's planning committee to convert the building into a centre for teaching and meditation.
The application was approved unanimously after a brief discussion.
Leader of the centre, monk Kelsang Rinchen (inset), who had waited for the application to be considered wearing his yellow and red monk's robes, said afterwards: "We're very pleased to be given the planning permission. We don't know yet when work will start on the building."