City's African Caribbean centre's future secured

Almost 3,000 people signed an online petition to save the centre

Liverpool's African Caribbean centre will remain in its current location, it has been confirmed.

Fears were raised in February when Liverpool City Council announced plans for a new school to be built on land occupied by the centre on Upper Parliament Street.

Members of the local community and the organisation's trustees launched a campaign to prevent the centre, which has stood since the 1970s, from having to make way for the school and relocate.

The council has now pledged to preserve the building and surrounding land.

The African Caribbean centre is a well-known landmark in Liverpool's Toxteth area

Earlier this year, tensions rose in a series of meetings discussing plans to build Eden Girls' Leadership Academy, which will provide hundreds of school places.

The first 120 pupils of the Star Academies-run school could start in September 2026.

There is huge demand for secondary school places in Liverpool, with the council saying the shortage in supply would be critical in 2026.

The Local Democracy Reporting Service understands talks were held between the African Caribbean centre's trustees and council officials on Wednesday to finalise the revised school plans.

A 125-year lease has previously been granted to the Department for Education and Star Academies for the development of the new school on approximately four acres of land around Upper Parliament Street, Mulgrave Street and Selborne Street.

The community centre has been at the Upper Parliament Street site since the 1970s

However many criticised the local authority for a perceived lack of engagement with the Toxteth community over the future of the site.

Council leader Liam Robinson said the authority was hopeful the DfE would support the proposals to bring the "long-campaigned for school into the community".

He said as the project moved through the planning process there would be further engagement with stakeholders and the wider community.

Princes Park ward councillor Lucille Harvey, campaigned to save the African Caribbean centre.

"The centre has been at the heart of the L8 community for decades, and its place in people's lives should not be underestimated, so it is great news that it will retain its current site," she said.

"A new school and a thriving community centre will bring real benefits to the L8 community for many years to come."