Businesses and community organisations in Nottingham’s landmark former Raleigh office building say they have been taken aback after being told they have 28 days to leave due to fire safety risks.
Nottingham City Council has ordered the closure of the Howitt Building, on Lenton Boulevard, home to the Lenton Business Centre and Marcus Garvey Centre, due to problems with the fire doors.
Lenton Business Centre 1, which sits behind the Howitt Building, must also close.
The Marcus Garvey Centre provides cultural day care services for the elderly, as well as music and events in its 600-person capacity ballroom.
Edrissa Touray is a young people’s projects coordinator at PATRA, a charity that helps people from Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) groups compete on an equal basis in the labour market.
He also helps deliver teaching in English and maths for marginalised communities from a unit in the Marcus Garvey Centre.
“We have all been taken aback,” he said.
“Because there was no consultation, everyone is ill-prepared to adjust to this change.
“We are all aware of the tremendous amount of cuts to community centres and all those places, and organisations and charities like ours actually provide services that, normally, the Government would not provide.
“These people have to rely on these services.
“If there is an issue with the building, as has been claimed, it is the responsibility of the council as landlord to fix those issues.
“But when we had the tenants’ meeting here, people were actually prepared to play a part in that if there is any cost involved. Tenants are happy to be part of that process, so they have to consult the people who are affected.”
Service user Kalid Muhammed Asfaw said: “This place helps many people who come to learn and to get an education—not only education, but also to communicate with other people.
“I think it is not good if it is closed.”
Around 70 businesses also operate from offices located on the other side of the building, in the Lenton Business Centre.
One of those businesses is Fostering Dimensions, a foster agency that has been working out of the building for over a decade to help place local children in local foster homes.
Director and manager Charmaine Ferguson said the situation is “stressful”.
“We’ve got three offices here, and our foster carers are predominantly local, so it is going to have a big impact on us. We have got to find somewhere else to go,” she added.
“We won’t be available to them to support them if we have to move further away. We’ve had very little notice—28 days—to find somewhere.
“It is the way the council has dealt with it. I don’t think they have been fair. I don’t think they’ve been honest and transparent.
“The units and businesses are so diverse and are making such a huge contribution to the economy. When we are talking about economic growth in communities, this is going to have a massive impact on everybody, and they need to reconsider what they are doing and how they do it.”
An online petition, set up by the Black Community Action Group, is demanding the council take urgent action to safeguard the Marcus Garvey Centre.
These demands include halting any possible sale of the building, lifting restrictions on repairs, and transferring ownership to the community.
It has been signed by more than 3,400 people.
A Nottingham City Council spokesperson said: “We fully understand the impact this will have on businesses, and we want to assure tenants that this decision has not been taken lightly.
“However, ensuring the safety of everyone in the centre must remain our top priority. Until the survey work is complete, we are unable to continue accommodating businesses within these buildings.
“The Fire Risk Assessment has identified specific issues relating to the fire doors and compartmentalisation throughout the Howitt Building and Lenton Business Centre 1 buildings, and the risks associated with these are sufficient to warrant the closure of the building.
“The council is committed to working closely with affected businesses to provide support and minimise disruption as much as possible. We will keep all tenants informed of the survey results and any future decisions regarding the site.
“Any work required in relation to the buildings could have significant cost implications. The council has limited resources and has to prioritise funding for statutory services.
“The Fire Risk Assessment for the workshops shows that there are no issues with these properties on the site. The council is looking at the provision of additional WC facilities for their use.”
