“Let’s listen to the L8 community and stop another Labour let down” says Cllr Carl Cashman, Lib Dem Leader

[Photo Credit: Hannah Cahill Photography]

Liverpool Lib Dems are joining with the L8 community in a push to save the African Caribbean Centre.

Earlier this year, the Liberal Democrats launched a successful call-in of the Cabinet’s decision to give away the site to Star Academy Trust to build a new school.

The African Caribbean Centre has been based on Amberley Street for almost 50 years and serves as a vital hub for the community.

The resolution of the Cabinet decision called on Labour to apologise to the African Caribbean community after trying to force through the decision to find an alternative site for the school without any attempt to protect the centre on its existing site.

But now, the centre is under renewed threat as the Council has made a list of demands of which would see the size of their plot dramatically reduced and possibly lose access to existing amenities.

Cllr Carl Cashman, Leader of the Liverpool Liberal Democrat opposition, said:

“It feels like history is repeating itself. Labour is already backtracking on the promises made to the African Caribbean community. I don’t accept the idea that the council should keep making demands of the centre and its trustees without showing any willingness to compromise and engage in a dialogue. 

“The African Caribbean Centre has been on that site for almost half a century and is an integral part of the community in Liverpool 8. I’m determined to fight to protect the centre.

"I am also firmly committed to the new school going ahead. It should as it’s sorely needed. The Muslim community and indeed the wider L8, L7 and L15 community have made that clear to me. What’s not acceptable is the centre losing any more land or amenity. 

“We are clear - the Council needs to be willing to negotiate and compromise with the Centre’s trustees not continue to make demands of them.”