Storm over Centerprise rages through Black History Month

centerprise exterior

Under threat: Centerprise in Kingsland Road, Dalston. Photograph: Antonio Curcetti

A threatened multicultural bookshop has increased its rental offer to the council in an attempt to avoid closure.

Dalston shop Centerprise, a hub for black literature and arts on Kingsland Road, is under threat of being shut down after Hackney Council increased its rent.

The bookshop, which has been paying a peppercorn rent of £10 a week, now faces a £37,000 per year charge – a much higher rent rate which would cripple the charity.

The shop made an initial offer of £9,000 to the council in February but this was rejected. Emmanuel Amevor, Centerprise’s chief executive, confirmed a higher offer of £12,000 was made to the council last month (September).

Mr Amevor, who hasn’t yet had a response from the council, said: “It seems like they are not interested in any offer we make. They’re trying to accuse us of not working with them to find a solution.”

Given the legal costs of a court case would be £20,000, which would force the trust to close, Mr Amevor is keen to negotiate with the Town Hall to avoid a hearing. He said: “The council seem to be giving the impression we are not willing to settle out of court, which is very strange. It’s like they just want to wipe us out.’”

As well as being a bookshop, Centerprise offers educational support (in maths, English and science) to local children in Hackney. It also runs creative workshops, hosts a Caribbean cuisine restaurant and is the brains behind WordPower, Europe’s biggest black literature festival and book fair.

With the shop’s existence under threat, public troops have rallied. So far 1,636 people have signed the online petition which claims: “The local council are attempting to stunt the growth, education, opportunities and talents of everyone especially our young people and elders by wanting to close down Centerprise.”

A further 2,000 people have signed a petition in-store and a public meeting is being held on 10 October in the Kingsland Road shop. But even with the public’s backing, Mr Amevor said the money raised so far “has not even scratched the surface”. He added: “The public support has been tremendous, it’s like the council doesn’t value the opinions of the people they are supposed to be serving.”

Centerprise hopes its new offer will mean the case is settled out of court.

The council has confirmed they have received the offer, but at time of publication it has not yet responded to it.

The court hearing is currently  scheduled for Monday 15 October.

Go here for the online petition to save Centerprise.

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