Somalis Fight to Save Centre

By Ian Clifford

Pitsmoor’s Somali Community took 6 years to raise £100,000 from personal donations to renovate the old Signpost pub and turn it into a Somali Islamic Cultural Centre, used for meetings, social gatherings, education and worship. 

Now the City Council have turned down a planning application for the change of use from a pub to a community centre due to insufficient parking. An appeal to the Secretary of State was turned down due to general disturbance at unsociable hours.

An open day was held recently to address residents’ concerns and appeal to the wider community to support the campaign to keep the centre open. At the open day Ismael Yussuf explained how the centre had united the Somali community, Abdi Yassin said the centre had brought peace and social cohesion to the area and Fatima Musa explained that 70% of the weekend use was by women and children with homework clubs and language classes.

The open day was also attended by local residents, local head teacher Rita Storr, local GP Dr Zaman and PC Mick Beaumont of the New Deal-funded police squad who said he was unaware of concerns about parking or nuisance but offered to help work towards a solution.

The Centre has called a Public Meeting on the issue: 2.00-4.00pm, Sat 11th May, Verdon Street Recreation Centre.

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