Group to leave community centre after 30 years (From Haringey Independent)

'It will be devastating for the local area' - Group to leave community centre after 30 years

3:07pm Monday 4th February 2013 in News By Bruce Thain

The founder of a community group says it will be "devastating" if it is forced to move from its council-owned centre after more than 30 years.

Charity Afro International has been working and proving services for the community at Lord Morrison Hall in Tottenham since 1992.

However it was announced last year that Haringey Borough Council would not renew the lease on the Scale Road centre when it runs out at the end of this month.

Dau Aldulpha founded Afro International in 1975 originally as a theatre company, but then moved into the centre to run community events from 1980.

He said: “It is very disappointing and distressing to think after all this time we might have to close and leave.

“We have worked so hard here and it will be devastating for the local area if we were to have to leave.

“Between 400 and 500 people use this building every week and if we go they will not have anywhere to go.

“To drive people away from a centre which has been a benefit to the community for so long is just not fair.”

Afro International and its supporters have vowed to fight the council decision not to renew the lease.

A spokesman for the council said: “Leasing of council-owned community buildings is conditional upon tenants properly maintaining properties as well as delivering activities within the community.

They added the council opposed the renewal of the lease because “the primary activity of Lord Morrison Hall’s leaseholder, Afro International, has been primarily to hire out the venue to third parties, rather than to run community arts and education programmes as per its constitution.”

Afro International has until February 18 to appeal the council’s decision or it will have to leave the property.