This week for Mayday a group of squatters opened a community centre in Lewes as part of the ‘Stop the G8’ anti-capitalism movement. The centre has an organic, locally grown, donations based vegetable shop, a comfy tea room, a well stocked free shop, and a sunny garden.
Everyday workshops are being held on things such as Fracking and extreme energy, Combe Haven defenders, stop the G8, Hunt sabbing etc.
The community centre is on the high street in an old solicictors office, complete with oak pannelled walls, a vault and basement with a coal bunker for anybody that breaks the safer spaces policy. There is also workshop rooms and a play area for kids and grown ups alike, complete with castles, an etch-a-sketch and jigsaw puzzles.
The project is being well received by the local Lewisians with everybody from grannies that were at greenham common to local people from the estate hanging out, drinking tea and playing cludo together.
The project is illustrating how much can be achieved by being resourceful within your community and supporting local people and produce rather than shopping at the faceless capitalist supermarkets where their carrots come from half way around the world rather than just down the road.
Unfortunately they have already been served court papers so with court on the 8th May its looking like the project won’t last that long, go and visit while you still can. The shop is open from 11:30 till 6pm everyday at least until court on Wednesday 8th May.
On Sunday at 2pm there is a vege barbeque in the back garden. Everyone is welcome to come and enjoy the sun.
