An online petition against plans to build a new girls’ school on a site where the Toxteth African Caribbean Centre stands has reached over 3,000 signatures.
The petition was set up ahead of a heated council meeting on Tuesday evening to discuss the site’s redevelopment.
The centre, situated on Mulgrave Street, was established in 1987 following the Toxteth riots.
A statement on the petition’s webpage said the African Caribbean community had been “broadsided” after a lack of consultation.
Cabinet member for growth and economy Cllr. Nick Small said that the council were “duty bound to provide any suitable land that is under council ownership”. He continued: “It meets a need for new school places in that part of the city.”
At the meeting, trustee for the centre Andrea Vaz said that the site’s redevelopment threatened “to divide a community”, adding that it was “ill considered, disingenuous and lacking evidence”.
During the meeting, Cllr. Small also set a date to begin construction in September 2025, a moment met with opposition from some of the meeting’s attendees. Around 100 protestors were gathered outside the town hall and their voices could be heard throughout.
Whilst a date for development has been set out, opposition to the council’s plans continue to leave the centre’s future uncertain.
