Update on The Aston Arena (Aston Villa Leisure Centre)


The Aston Arena has been given its eviction notice; a    large charity, two schools and two private clubs have  been given 20 days to vacate with no measures put in   place to rehouse them.


While the closure has caused community anger the impact of not rehousing these organisations will have a negative community impact.


The Charity, Gilbert Deya Ministries, works with the most deprived in the area and acts as a referral service as well as community centre; while the two schools, Aspire Learning Academy and Omar Partners, have very strong links with the Pakistani and Somali community, two community groups with very low   educational attainment and are seen as difficult to reach.

Despite both Birmingham City Council and the HCA having strong property portfolios they have not worked  together in any way to accommodate these imperative community groups, or search for storage until decisions are made.
Birmingham Council representatives had no idea an eviction was already served, the Council Regeneration team promised to rehouse before they knocked down yet the Aston Arena tenant now has 20 days to remove all their stock; this is a huge issue as the HCA recently cut the power to the lift and a lot of heavy items reside on the first and second floor.

The HCA is disregarding its community aspect, much of the stock would serve to strengthen community facilities (sports equipment etc), yet there is no drive by any Governing parties to make use of these natural resources. 

Communities are still coming last, and with the announcement of localised and reduced Council tax eligibility we can be sure austerity is aimed at the least socially mobile and the most deprived.
Aston, Nechells and Newtown fit that bill and non-profit organisations with creative thinking to community issues continue to find themselves separate from the process. 

Update - Birmingham Council are showing concern about the eviction time frame and are contacting the HCA, they seem to be working diligently to assist with rehousing but we shall have to wait and see.

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