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The Cottage of Content Occupied Social Centre is reclaimed!

brum imcista | 09.07.2006 14:06 | Free Spaces | Birmingham

A boarded up Community Centre in Sparkbrook, Birmingham, called the 'Cottage of Content' has just been occupied for use as a Social Centre. The Community Centre, which includes a garden and a large hall, was closed by Birmingham City Council back in May 2005. It has since been boarded up and left to rot whilst local people have lost a valuable community resource.

The 'Cottage of Content' was used by the local community for social events, a youth club, english lessons for Asylum Seekers, Adult Education and a Yemeni Cultural Centre. Without any consultation with the local community, Birmingham City Council are planning to auction the property off on July 19th for 'commercial use'. They also claim it has 'development potential'.

 http://www.bondwolfe.net/docs/NEW%20LO-RES%20CATALOGUE.pdf

The occupation of the property, which has been enthusiastically received by local people, seeks to prevent this happening and aims to return the Cottage of Content to community use.

valuable community resource to be auctioned by birmingham city council
valuable community resource to be auctioned by birmingham city council

The Cottage of Content left to rot by the Council
The Cottage of Content left to rot by the Council

The spacious Hall extension
The spacious Hall extension

Section 6 warning in place
Section 6 warning in place

Boarded up
Boarded up

Boards off!
Boards off!

inside the hall where the youth club used to meet
inside the hall where the youth club used to meet


The Social Centre Collective which includes local people meets every Monday at 7:30 pm. Everyone is welcome to attend.

Here's the address: The Cottage of Content Occupied Social Centre, 147 Kyrwicks Lane, Sparkbrook, B11 1SS

 http://www.streetmap.co.uk/streetmap.dll?G2M?X=408140&Y=284947&A=Y&Z=1

You can get there pretty easily from Brum City Centre if you get the no. 50 bus and get off at Highgate Fire Station, where Moseley Road meets Highgate Road (A4540). Then take a left down Montpellier Street, go under the railway bridge and the Social Centre is on your right on the corner of Montpellier Street and Kyrwicks Lane.

Here's the mailing list and email details if you'd like to get involved:

mailing list:  scbrum@lists.riseup.net

email:  scbrum@aktivix.org

brum imcista
- e-mail: scbrum@aktivix.org


Comments

Display the following 3 comments

  1. Good luck — t
  2. :) — Kidda
  3. Bond Wolfe July 2006 Catalogue — one of the cottage social centre collective

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