Squatters told to quit
Squatters who have set up a community centre in an old factory in Bath have been told to negotiate a date with bailiffs to leave.
The group moved into the council-owned Newark Works – once part of the Stothert and Pitt crane empire – last month.
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Newark works squatters
At a hearing at Bath County Court today, B&NES Council asset review manager Malcolm Grainger asked Judge Francis Goddard for a possession order.
This was granted and Judge Goddard told squatter Steve Jones to sort out a date with bailiffs when they could leave the 19th century property.
The group had been using the building in Lower Bristol Road to house the Black Cat Social Centre, hosting meetings and poetry sessions.
It was the fourth location for the centre since Christmas, and the group had hoped it would be a more permanent site.
Mr Jones said after the hearing: “It is such a waste of a beautiful building.
“It has been vacant for two years and it now has proved particularly suitable for housing poetry and open mic performances, as well as being home to a lending library, and showcasing local artists’ work.
“We will be looking for other suitable venues to carry on our work.”
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by Paul Wiltshire, Deputy editor
Wednesday, March 17 2010, 4:45PM
“I think this one's reached the end of the road, too.”
by Paul, Bath
Wednesday, March 17 2010, 4:27PM
“I agree PW - blatant lies. The police have video evidence of the attempted break-in by a gentleman in a black hooded top. Is this how they gained entry through the 'open' window?!”
by PW, Bath
Wednesday, March 17 2010, 3:46PM
“Interesting to see Jon refer to the it as 'our door' which of course is the issue - It's not. It belongs to the council. I'm surprised the police found it so hard to get into the building as access seems to be so easy for others..”
by Jon, Bath
Wednesday, March 17 2010, 3:21PM
“Oh, and i'm not saying I believe the door kicking to have happened, i'm saying I saw the door kicking happening.”
by Jon, Bath
Wednesday, March 17 2010, 3:20PM
“Well Lucy, I have 2 basic facts on the situation -
1. The police turned up on Friday and started repeatedly booting our door
2. Just days beforehand, the council made a false suggestion that we gained entry through the door being kicked by police.
So what I have suggested really seems like one of the few logical suggestions to me - but whatever the reason, the actions of the police were illegal and just the lastest in a long string of dodgy policing that seems to be aimed at intimidating a group out of the perfectly lawful activity of squatting. And before people start with the 'good - you deserve it' andgle, the bottom line is that the police should not act outside of the law that they strive so hard to uphold. If you want them to be allowed to break into squats, break up picket lines, arrest hunt monitors/saboteurs etc and a whole raft of other far right policies, then i suggest you go and vote tory!”