The Marcus Garvey Centre in Nottingham has been ordered to close indefinitely following a fire risk assessment that identified 'issues relating to fire doors'. Businesses and community groups have been given 28 days to vacate the premises, sparking anger and concern about the future of the historic building and its occupants.
Nottingham City Council has given businesses and community groups 28 days to vacate the Marcus Garvey Centre following a fire risk assessment that found 'issues relating to fire doors' causing the centre to close indefinitely.
Nottinghamshire Live has been told that businesses must vacate the Howitt Lenton Business Centre building by March 4 to allow extensive surveying work to be carried out in order to establish whether these issues could have 'significant cost implications' in the council's continued operation of the building. A spokesperson for Nottingham City Council said: '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 enough to warrant the closure of the building. Read more: Marcus Garvey Centre closes due to 'fire risk', leaving businesses and communities in jeopardy “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 Marcus Garvey Centre - a Grade II listed building - was originally established in the 1930s as the headquarters for Raleigh Bikes, and has since served as a hub for the small businesses and Afro-Caribbean communities across Nottingham. The property managers at the building informed businesses on January 27 of their decision to close the centre and the need for them to vacate the premises. This has since caused anger from businesses and community groups within the centre, as the sudden closure is likely to have a significant financial and operational impact due to the lack of similarly priced business centres elsewhere across the city. The spokesperson for Nottingham City Council added: '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 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.' Despite this, businesses from within the centre claimed their enquiries regarding supplementary help in finding new premises have been ignored and they have been left in the dark as to whether they will ever receive support in finding a new base of operations. The closure of the historic building has also sparked fear that the neighbouring workshops to the rear of the Howitt building may also be at risk of closure due to the fact that their heating and WC facilities are based in the main building. Yet Nottingham City Council was able to reassure those based out of the workshops would be able to continue their operations, saying: 'There are no issues with these properties on the site. The council is looking at the provision of additional WC facilities for their use.
MARCUS GARVEY CENTRE NOTTINGHAM CITY COUNCIL FIRE RISK BUSINESS CLOSURE COMMUNITY IMPACT
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