London: Free Spaces, Squats and Social Centres

By: liberation - June 14th, 2007  Filed under: News

May 15th 2007

The social centers movement in the UK has grown considerably in the last four or five years with spaces springing up all over the country. London projects tend to use squatted buildings and come and go in a cycle of occupation and eviction. Check out the UK Social Centres Network website or join the London SCN mailing list for news about events taking place in current spaces:
http://www.socialcentresnetwork.org.uk/
http://lists.riseup.net/www/info/londonscn-events

Evicted spaces: Radical Dairy | Fortress Rd | Use Your Loaf | ex-Grand Banks | Institute For Autonomy | Square | Vortex.
http://www.londonsocialcentre.org.uk/

Current spaces:
LARC http://www.londonarc.org/
56a infoshop http://www.56a.org.uk/
Camberwell http://www.56a.org.uk/warham.html
rampART http://www.rampart.co.nr/

Indymedia-London

 

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Everything4Everyone in Response to the Dalston Lane Eviction

By: liberation - November 3rd, 2006  Filed under: News

Hello,

The 3 houses adjoining Dalston theatre, occupied since February this year to prevent the planned demolition of the whole site to make way for high rise luxury flats, were evicted at 5am on Wednesday night. Despite having mounted solid barricades throughout the building and kept up regular roof shifts to keep a look-out for the bailiffs, they entered the building via the back of the building, accessing the roof before the occupiers had the chance to effectively resist the eviction.

While the time for the theatre has run out, for us this is not the end of the battle, but only the beginning. Just as the gentrification of Hackney doesn’t end with the demolition of the theatre, so our attempts to work together with women, men, young people, elderly, and all people who are suffering the consequences of plans of “regeneration” that don’t take our future into account, will not end here. We probably all feel doubtful about our chances of winning against the council or government agency that, sooner or later, always manage to get away with their plans. We are just frustrated spectators in our land witnessing everything getting worse, lack of housing and services, lack of health, lack of schools, lack of work, unemployment, criminalization of youth, racism towards ethnic minorities, the destruction of our culture and our history. We can’t accept business as usual. To stand still is to admit defeat. To stand still is to go backward. To stand still is to succumb to the kind of deprivation that we’re witnessing. To stand up is to win, to not give up is to win, to organize, to cooperate with each other is to win.

[Read More]

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Dalston Lane Theatre Evicted, Hackney, London

By: liberation - November 2nd, 2006  Filed under: News

Today police forces evicted the occupied Dalston Theatre in Dalston Lane, Hackney, London. Police came around 4.30 in the morning, climbing the massive building from several sides with ladders.

By 9.00h everyone was evicted from the theatre, with police surrounding the whole building.

http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2006/11/355014.html Full Story with Pictures and Video on UK Indymedia

[squat!net]

 

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Urgent Action Needed – Dalston Lane Theatre Squat Eviction, Hackney London

By: liberation - October 24th, 2006  Filed under: News

4 Dalston Lane, Hackney, London, UK

The occupied theatre on Dalston Lane (Hackney, London) is currently facing eviction – the local council has got permission to demolish the buildings from next Wednesday. Dalston Theatre was occupied in February to protest against the gentrification of the area and has ever since been open as the “Everything4Everyone” community centre, hosting a variety of activities and workshops, including a samba band and cafe.

to get involved contact:: everything4everyone [at] riseup [dot] net

http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2006/10/353509.htmlFULL story with pictures on UK Indymedia

[squat!net]

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London: Eviction of St-Agnes Place

By: liberation - December 17th, 2005  Filed under: News

The eviction of St Agnes Place in Kennington (South London) by Lambeth Council finally took place on Tuesday 29th, after years of court battles and previous eviction attempts [Report]. The oldest squatted street in London was swarmed with hundreds of riot police the whole day, as residents were resisting the bailiffs and specialist climbers that were emptying the street of its 150 strong community set up 30 years ago [Photos 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 and Video]. [Read More]

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London: 56a Infoshop Gentrification Exhibition

By: liberation - September 22nd, 2005  Filed under: News

SANTIAGO, Chile + WALWORTH, London
A Photographic Exhibition held with the South London Social Centre 56a Infoshop. Now up and showing… all welcome…

Walworth in South London disappearing fast…

The process of erasure and closure is at work in both Santiago, Chile and Walworth in London (and everywhere else too it seems?) Decay, psychic anchors, historical ruins and the sense of community life in local space is demolished overnight. What buildings, grafitti, secrets, shops, dark alleys keep life in your neighbourhood bearable? [Read More]

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South London: Use your Loaf social centre is facing eviction

By: liberation - August 27th, 2004  Filed under: News

Use your Loaf has been squatted for two and a half years. The building, an old bakery at 227 Deptford High Street, was empty for eight years and falling down until we squatted it and lavished it with tender loving care and serious building work. We have a cafe on Friday nights and many other activities such as a local history group and occasional music and film nights. When we showed Farenheit 911 the place was so packed that people were standing on the pavement trying to watch the film through the door!

Use your Loaf is a very friendly little squat and provides cheap food and socialising space for people in a poor area of London. Many people come in off the street to see what we are doing and come back with their friends. The support we have had from locals now they know we are under eviction threat has been great.

[Read More]

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Tufnell Park social centre evicted (London)

By: liberation - August 27th, 2004  Filed under: News

26 Aug 2004

Around forty police along with about 30 bailiffs smashed down the front door of the occupied social centre at 5.30am this morning.

The small number of people inside were searched and police intelligence teams filmed and photographed peoples notebooks and much of the other paper based material they could find.

Some people have since been allowed briefly back inside to recover some of their possessions inside.

Last week a police surveillance and intimidation operation was reported outside the social centre against a meeting for autonomous and self organised spaces for the european social forum due to be held in london in october.

The occupied social centre had proven to be one of the most successful squatted community projects for some time, providing a vibrant mix of workshops and skills share from screen printing to radio training. It had played host to some world renowned musicians and singers and provided a valuable meeting place for many campaigns.

[Read More]

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The Poison Club in Dalston lane was evicted at around 3:00pm 30.07.2004

By: liberation - August 18th, 2004  Filed under: News

Dalston junction in Hackney, was closed off for some time today as a huge police operation took place to evict the popular and well-known occupied venue and social centre, the Poison club on Dalston Lane. At aproximatly 3:00pm today the police reportedly axed down the door, roughly handling the occupants, immediatly evicting them from the building, whilst filming the operation. The building was effectivly “raided” and evicted on the basis of a drug search, and then the second excuse was that the building was structurally unsound due to a fire at the place next door to the poison club the night before. No drugs were reported to have been found, and of the 5 occupants that were there at the time, no-one was indicated to have, or charged with any drug offence. Under the heavy boots of the police the building did not fall down either – it was still standing as they left, structurally sound, although kicked in! The Poison Club was home to around nine residents and has been in existance for almost 2 years, this september. Described as a non-commercial D.I.Y meeting point for friends of punk rock, hardcore and grindcore, the residents and users of the Poison Club also regularly facilitaed its use as a venue for benefits for causes such as Zapatista solidarity. The Poison Club was also a strong focal point for the queer punk community.

[Read More]

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Brixton, London: The history of Cooltan Arts Centre

By: liberation - July 9th, 2004  Filed under: News

Brixton: Cooltan Arts centre

Anyone that ever made it to the old CoolTan building in Coldharbour Lane will remember its unique and vibrant atmosphere.

It was a true co-operative squat that served the local community, offering art space, a café, office space for campaign groups, rehearsals rooms, darkrooms, and – of course – some of the best techno parties we’ve ever been to!

A history:

CoolTan Arts first formed in June 1991, taking their name from the disused CoolTan Suntan Lotion factory they first squatted in Effra Road, Brixton. [Read More]

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London: New social centre opens this Friday 21st…

By: liberation - May 22nd, 2004  Filed under: News

Just over a week ago an unused building in East London was occupied by a group of international artists and activists with the aim of opening up a new social space. The building has been secured, tided up and some essential repairs made. The rampart was born…

The Rampart will provide a rampant meeting and workshop space, free internet access, info shop, community cinema, vokue/cafe, extensive free shop, art gallery and theatre space… The building contains a cosy hall in which a stage has been built and the whole place decorated.

The Ramparts is really close to LARC, Freedom Book, the Hacklab and a squatted environmental project, and we’ll be avoiding duplicating the stuff they already provide while adding to the diversity of autonomous projects in the area.

This coming friday (21st), there will be an opening event, consisting of screenings performance, live music, poetry slam/open mic in the ramparts hall. If you would like to get involved on the night, please let us know ASAP. We also hope to do food but currently don’t have cooking tat to cater for large numbers (we need big pots, and loads of plates/bowls/mugs and cuttlery).

[Read More]

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London: call to the creation of a female-based squat

By: liberation - April 15th, 2004  Filed under: News

THE SHIFTING SISTERHOOD

I am a young woman looking to set up a female based (although not exclusive) squat in London, over the next month.

I am looking for energetic and responsible women to form a practical, active and caring group, in order to empower ourselves individually.

[Read More]

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