Camden, London: Leisure Centre soon to be community space from Bohemia squatters

By: dolph-l - February 7th, 2014  Filed under: Interviews, News

A group of squatters have moved into a leisure centre left empty for two years after Camden Council sold it off. The Mornington Sports Centre in Arlington Road, Camden Town, is set to be turned into new private homes, but developers have been slowed down by wrangling over planning permission.

Squatters who call themselves the North London Squatting Collective say they will turn it into a place for plays and workshops until the new owners are ready to start building work. Members of the same group were recently involved in the occupation of the Friern Barnet Library and The Bohemia Community Centre in Barnet. [Read More]

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Hackney, London: 52B Well Street evicted

By: dolph-l - February 6th, 2014  Filed under: News

A delayed update!

Last week we were evicted by High Court bailiffs after loosing court on the 30th January 2014. We made various attempts to contact the owners and negotiate an appropriate leaving date, to coincide with work commencing on the building, but the developers had no interest in speaking with us. The papers for court which inevitably led to our eviction was the only sign the owners gave us that they wanted us to leave. All too typical for squatting.

Additionally to the eviction of 52B (including 1 Shore Place, the living space for part of the crew, which included the popular anarcha-corridoor), an elderly lady who had been asked to leave by March 2014 was prematurely evicted, while the final pair of tenants in 52D narrowly avoided eviction, but are still due to leave on 15th February 2014. [Read More]

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London: Peoples Kitchen returns to Hackney & Open Day at 52B Well Street this Saturday

By: dolph-l - January 5th, 2014  Filed under: News

Peoples kitchen returns to Hackney after a festive break, continuing every Thursday from 7pm with free/donation based food and film screening after.

So come check out our new home for the social centre at 52B Well Street, E9 7PX, and let us know what you think (or how YOU can make it better!)

A public open day will also be taking place on Saturday 11th January for our ‘official’ opening. [Read More]

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Hackney, London: New social centre coming soon & statement from 195 Mare Street collective

By: dolph-l - December 22nd, 2013  Filed under: News, Press release

We are delighted to announce that there is a new home for the social centre.  The new location is conveniently close to the previous building, and will be revealed when we are ready to launch.

There is scope to continue many of the activities that occurred at Mare St, such as free shop, social/info evenings, language classes, reading groups, meetings, art classes, people’s kitchen, queer events, screenings and much more.   Confirmed opening times and the timetabling of activities will follow shortly. [Read More]

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London: 195 Mare Street evicted (again)

By: sisulscz - December 17th, 2013  Filed under: News

Today (Monday 16th December, 2013), high court bailiffs evicted 195 Mare St in a morning raid. The eviction was relatively brief. Most of our useful equipment has been moved to a nearby location and will be used for projects in the near future. Watch this space for developments.

http://www.socialcentre.org.uk/

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DIY Space for London

By: sisulscz - December 15th, 2013  Filed under: News

With many great temporary social centres having come and gone over the years, there is a distinct need for a self-sustaining, accessible space in London for DIY culture and radical activity: somewhere suitable for gigs, events, community organising and much more. London doesn’t currently have this, so DIY Space for London was initiated to make this a reality.
[Read More]

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London: Solidarity demo with 195 Mare Street squatter and Russian LGBTQ activist facing deportation

By: dolph-l - December 9th, 2013  Filed under: News

Update: Ira has been released! Release party at 195 Mare Street, Hackney, 10pm tonight! @IrinaMustStay

From Irina Must Stay:

A crowd of more than 150 people assembled around the UKBA offices in London Bridge. We spoke to Ira to show her how much support there is for her and others in Yarl’s Wood. Almost £100 was raised to be passed on to other detainees for phone credit as a lot of them are completely isolated. If you would like to donate online for detainees in Yarl’s Wood or to the campaign please send a message via the Irina Must Stay facebook. We are thinking of holding another demo on Saturday 14th Dec at the Home Office or Yarl’s Wood – please follow the twitter @irinamuststay to keep updated. Thanks for your support! [Read More]

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London: Squatter from 195 Mare Street Detained

By: sisulscz - December 7th, 2013  Filed under: News

A friend, comrade, and squatmate, Ira Putiloss has been detained today by UKBA (United Kingdom Border Agency) officials. Ira is an LQBTQ person from Russia who is currently claiming asylum in the U.K for her own safety. In Russia she was harrassed, followed, and attacked, by state officials, the police and Neo Nazis because of her political activism and LGBTQ status; if she is returned to Russia she is likely to face torture, detention, and potentially death. Today (06/12/13) she was taken by UKBA officials to Yarls Wood Immigration Removal Centre and may face imminent deportation. We have recently lost contact with Ira, but are hoping to speak to her later tonight when she arrives at Yarls Wood. In the mean time, we ask everyone reading this to spread the word about Ira and her situation, and to contact groups or people who might be able to help- keep your eyes and ears open. All and any actions of support/solidarity are greatly appreciated by Ira and her Friends.

http://socialcentre.org.uk/friend-of-the-social-centre-detained-by-ukba/

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London: Protest occupation camp against Section 144 squatting law at Finchley Tory Office of Mike Freer MP

By: dolph-l - November 24th, 2013  Filed under: News

Mike Freer MP is a co-architect of the controversial ‘Section 144′ law that criminalises squatting in domestic properties.

On 22nd November 2013, campaigners arrived to protest and camp outside his constituency office (the Finchley building that used to be Margaret Thatcher’s office).

At first, in a PR move, he invited them off the pavement and onto the forecourt, but as many local people showed their support, and others arrived to protest, towards the end of the day he changed his mind. However, the squatters pointed out to the police that he would now need to put that in writing and to apply to a court, which he would be unable to do now before Monday morning, so the camp remains over the weekend at least. [Read More]

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Hackney, London: Free School next week at Mare Street

By: dolph-l - November 16th, 2013  Filed under: News

50+ events over 7 days now organised!

195 Mare Street, Hackney, London.

The week has been split as follows:

  • Mon 18th  Resistance / Awareness
  • Tue 19th  DIY / Cooking
  • Wed 20th  Technology / Ecology
  • Thu 21st  Housing / Benefits / Practical Squatting
  • Fri 22nd  Queer and Feminist
  • Sat 23rd  Arts / Music / Creative
  • Sun 24th  Arts / Music / Creative

For list of events (and updates) see: 195 Mare Street @ radar.squat.net [Read More]

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North Finchley, London: The Bohemia pub evicted

By: dolph-l - November 16th, 2013  Filed under: News

The squatters who took over the former pub The Bohemia pub in Finchley have been evicted after police and bailiffs smashed through barricades in dramatic scenes this afternoon.

At just after 5pm around 20 High Court bailiffs joined by police, including canine units, forced their way through the rear entrance of the pub in North Finchley High Road before the occupiers, who entered the building in September, agreed to leave quietly.

The squatters had turned the abandoned building into a community hub following its sudden closure in August. [Read More]

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Southwark, London: Interview with occupiers of the residential building on Park Street

By: dolph-l - November 2nd, 2013  Filed under: Interviews

Nestled in a quiet street between the river and Borough Market, surrounded by expensive butchers, wine bars and offices for start-up PR companies and various institutional offshoots of the Globe Theatre sits 21-23 Park Street. The nearly 200 year old building originally housed managers at the nearby Anchor Brewery, but was sold to Southwark Council who used it as part of their housing stock.

The building made headlines last week as news that the council was auctioning off the property with a reserve of  £2.25 million earned it the title of “the most expensive council house in Britain”. On Monday, just as news that the property had been sold for  £2.96 million began circulating, it also became clear that the building had been occupied by local residents, some of whom are part of a new mutual support group called Housing Action Southwark & Lambeth, in an attempt to prevent the sale of yet more public housing. Having attempted to identify a number of possible offences, it became clear that police had no legal recourse to arrest the occupants, and they left. [Read More]

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