Author Zadie Smith throws support to threatened community centres in Kilburn

Parents and staff from Granville's community centre and nursery are fighting plans that the centres are demolished (Image: Archant)

Zadie Smith will be doing a reading at the Granville Centre in Granville Road, on November 25 from 5pm-9.30pm.

The acclaimed author of White Teeth, who was raised in Kilburn, is making a rare appearance to bring her “Saving the Granville” event in support of the campaign.

Brent Council plans to bulldoze both The Granville and the Carlton Community Centre in Carlton Vale, which includes a nursery, despite the building’s status as an asset of community value.

Brent cabinet members are meeting next Tuesday evening at Brent Civic Centre to discuss proceeding with the plans following a consultation with residents.

The site will be used for new homes as part of the £600million development of the South Kilburn Estate.

Campaigners have launched a petition to save the community centres, which are

are heritage sites and have served residents for more than 100 years.

It also home to a popular weekly community kitchen for local families run by Dee Woods, UK Ambassador for Slow Food and BBC Cook of the year 2016.

Zadie Smith, whose White Teeth won the Whitbread First Novel Award, and author of On Beauty, which won the Commonwealth Writers’ Best Book Award, will do a reading which will be followed by a Q&A session.

For more information about the event and to sign the petition click here,