Crisis talks have been held between owners of a temple and its neighbours in a bid to ease the animosity between them.

The Nagapooshani Ambaal Tamil Temple, in Church Lane, Edmonton, moved into the premises eleven years ago, and owners have now been approved plans to redevelop the site, starting next month.

However, residents who live in nearby streets are furious at the level of noise and car parking issues that the temple has caused since its inception.

At a community action partnership for Enfield (CAPE) meeting, in Latymer All Saints school, on Church Street, residents vented their frustration.

Neighbours called for the temple to find a new site to cope with its growing demand and Shan Navratnam, of the temple, revealed it had looked for alternative premises in 2012.

He said: “It is true that we had a long deep look for alternative location. We are equally concerned that we should not upset our neighbours.”

Rachelle Romeo, of Latymer Road, told the meeting that people from the temple had been using a private alleyway without authorisation.

MP for Edmonton Andy Love attended the meeting and told both sides that there needs to be “good will” to move forward

He said: “We need a small group from both sides to come together. Someone needs to collate all the concerns of the residents to go to the temple along with the council planning officers.

“The temple needs to put more in to satisfy the local community and recognise the limitations of numbers that can be accommodated at your facility.

“To do more on the parking situation in Church Lane and Latymer Road might be the spark that brings both sides together.”

Many complained that worshippers using the temple had parked across their driveways and that thre was noise until the early hours of the morning; much later than the temple's authorised closing time.

Cllr George Savva, who represents Haselbury, told the meeting that he had been approached by the temple to look for alternative locations but the decision was made to stay in Church Lane. He added: “We need to understand each other’s position.”

Suggestions were made that a shuttle bus service from Edmonton Green shopping centre is created for temple goers to help ease the parking problems.

Eddie Fraser, of St Joan’s Road, concluded the meeting.

He said: “No one knew in 2003 that this was coming. It was bought very quietly. Although we are sitting here on opposite sides at no point have we stopped you from going to the place of worship. We have accommodated you, we have been good neighbours.

“You have not been hostile to us but the things that you are doing have impacted on our lives, very much so.

“We have never raised any obnoxious voices to you. We have a job to do here. We need to decide on a point of commencement or we are not going to be able to move on.”