TURKISH residents are calling on a council to provide them with a permanent site for their community school.

The Turkish Supplementary School, in Lewisham, provides members of Lewisham’s Turkish community with classes in various subjects, including the Turkish language and traditional folk dance.

It has been running for 25 years now and for the last eight years it has been based at Catford High School, in Conisborough Crescent, Catford, on Fridays and Saturdays.

However, headteacher Akjen Havali says it is time the Turkish community were given a permanent site from which to run the school, which has more than 200 students.

Hundreds of people have signed a petition calling on Lewisham Council to provide them with a place and around 200 people protested outside the town hall on May 30.

Ms Havali said: “There’s a large Turkish community in Lewisham and the centre not only provides education for young people, but also has classes open to adults and the elderly.

“There are no other provisions specifically aimed at Turkish youths in the borough and we are keeping them off the streets at the weekend.

“These young people are quite adament that they want somewhere of their own where they can come and enjoy themselves in a safe environment.

“It’s very very important because at the moment they have got nowhere to go.”

Lib Dem councillor Pete Pattisson will submit the petition on behalf of the Turkish community to the council at a meeting on June 24.

He says the school plays an important part in supporting the Turkish community.

Cllr Pattisson said: “It’s more than a place to study. It’s a community centre and the school feels they’re well established enough to have a place of their own now.

“There’s always scope for more youth facilities in the borough and if young people don’t have a community centre they feel safe to go to they wont use it.

“And that’s the way the Turkish community feel.”

Councillor Robert Massey, the council’s cabinet member for children and young people, says he recognises the good work the school does and is happy to meet Ms Havali to discuss the way forward.