Community in renewed bid to stop centre’s sale
RESIDENTS have launched a renewed campaign to save a much-loved south Manchester community centre.
The once thriving Nello James Centre, in Whalley Range, has fallen into disrepair after standing empty for several years.
The centre, named after author and social activist C.L.R. James, was bought with funds donated by actress Vanessa Redgrave and bequeathed to the community in the early 1970s.
Owners of the Withington Road property, The Walton Cottage Educational Trust, have given notice of their intentions to sell the building.
But because it is listed as an ‘asset of community value’ by Manchester Council, any community interest groups must be allowed to bid for the land.
Blue Matthews-Mason is leading a campaign to save the building for community use after a similar attempt back in 2015.
She says the two buildings are hugely important to both the Afro-Caribbean community and the wider south Manchester community.
“I used to go as a kid to nursery there and I had family members who worked there,” she says. “It was a big part of our community growing up.
“The trustees have put it up for sale again so we’re trying to get a group together to try and bid. It’s early days.
“The building was part of the land bequeathed to the Caribbean community by Vanessa Redgrave. A lot of people in Hulme and Moss Side, not just Whalley Range, have used that centre. It’s really important to the community and is of huge cultural significance.”
Following the last push to save the centre, back in 2015, Blue says the campaigners struggled to engage with trustees.
She hopes the centre could eventually be brought back into use as a community venue with an education hub, a library and community arts resource.
“We are really keen to work with the trustees because we think this building is so important to the community, “she says.
Those interested in bidding for the land must be structured as a charity or community interest company. They have until August 2 to notify the authority if they wish to be treated as a potential bidder.
If a CIC does come forward the owner will not be able to sell the land before the expiry of a moratorium period on December 21, 2018. After that the owners will have a year to sell the building to anyone they choose.
Any community interest groups that wishes to be considered as a bidder should email: righttobid@manchester. gov.uk or write to The City Solicitor, Manchester City Council, PO Box 532, Town Hall, Manchester, M60 2LA.
The Save Nello James group is now looking for people who have experience in bid writing, fundraising, trustee experience, accounting, project management and campaigning to help with its bid. The group can be contacted via Facebook.