TEXT your pictures, videos and messages to 80360. Start your message with SUPIC or email your tip-offs »
11:00am Tuesday 13th May 2008
Squatters barricaded themselves into a disused church to stop police evicting them.
Officers and bailiffs wanted to remove 25 people living in the former Methodist Church in London Road, Brighton.
But the squatters, who moved into the building on April 11, barred the doors to prevent officers gaining entry.
Last night the squatters, who call themselves the 88 London Road Community, said they intend to stay in the old church.
One told The Argus: "We are protesting against the illegal evictions of squatter communities elsewhere in the city from disused properties."
The squatters say they have converted the building into a community centre, offering free food, cinema nights and a children's nursery.
One, speaking on behalf of the community, said: "This building has been left empty and unused for four years.
"As well as making this our home, we are here to generate a positive comfortable space that is independent and self managed, where people can be creative, share information and resources while building a stronger and more connected community."
While bailiffs tried to gain entry, some squatters stood on the building's roof and others attached banners to the front of the old church.
People living in nearby London Terrace said they are regularly disturbed by late-night noise.
One woman said: "I thought I was going to have a breakdown because of the music. We have had enough of it."
Police stood guard while bailiffs tried to carry out their eviction notice but later a police spokeswoman said: "On the grounds of public safety, bailiffs do not intend to enforce the court order today."
Three planning applications have been submitted to Brighton and Hove City Council to demolish the old church and build flats.
A Methodist Church spokesman said: "We still own the building but no decision as to the long term use has been made.
"A thing that is under consideration is to turn it into flats and a community centre. As an institution and as individuals we have a great concern about the issue of homelessness.
"Homlessness is an important concern for us but our immediate concern is for the safety of everyone involved, both the people inside and those trying to deal with the situation."
Alfie, Brighton says...
12:54pm Tue 13 May 08
Clive Graham, Seven Dials says...
1:01pm Tue 13 May 08
Abba Trousers, Shoreham says...
1:03pm Tue 13 May 08
bobby bigballs, Brighton says...
1:15pm Tue 13 May 08
S.T. Rewth, Brighton says...
1:24pm Tue 13 May 08
Mark, Hove says...
1:44pm Tue 13 May 08
Nobby, Brighton says...
1:47pm Tue 13 May 08
squat the lot, BRIGHTON says...
2:02pm Tue 13 May 08
splitter101, BN2 says...
2:08pm Tue 13 May 08
Splitter101, bn2 says...
2:10pm Tue 13 May 08
Brian, Hove says...
2:26pm Tue 13 May 08
Marc, Brighton says...
2:27pm Tue 13 May 08
lustrell, Saltdean says...
2:47pm Tue 13 May 08
hadenough, Brighton says...
3:32pm Tue 13 May 08
legs11, Brighton says...
4:20pm Tue 13 May 08
James, @ home says...
4:27pm Tue 13 May 08
Splitter101, bn2 says...
4:53pm Tue 13 May 08
Bruce L, Brighton says...
5:01pm Tue 13 May 08
Dave wrote:I noticed this yeterday when walking along London Road - so there was a huge number of Police and it was difficult to see what was going on.
Well that is a newsworthy story, no entry, no result and evryone is no further than they were yesterday, how funny... this seems like Brighton alright...
Norman, Brighton says...
5:18pm Tue 13 May 08
Splitter101, says...
5:41pm Tue 13 May 08
Stephen, England says...
5:54pm Tue 13 May 08
Major contributor, Wales says...
7:02pm Tue 13 May 08
George, Earth says...
7:13pm Tue 13 May 08
Major contributor wrote:All-right that's a nice idea in fairyland but tlet's come back into reality for awhile. "...their important work"? Seriously. I mean...seriously?!
Hi all I am reading all these comments with interest, and in particular all those angry message from people with jobs and big mortgages who believe that the squatters 'contribute nothing' and are always on the take. I guess that it's hard to see things any other way if you feel yourself tied to job, mortgage, bills and so on. However, the way I look at it is this: Most paid work is undertaken in a system which pays you less than the job is worth to line someone else's pockets. I think it's really sad that people work full time to keep a roof over their heads. It's something we should all be resisting, because it stops us from doing much more useful things for society. Having full time jobs often means we buy a whole load of consumer items which we don't really need and which subsequently break and end up in landfill, we drive cars which poison our atmosphere, we go to the supermarkets and buy a whole load of over-packaged foodstuffs. Recent research has shown that much of the food bought in supermarkets is thrown straight in the bin. Most importantly, many of us don't have time to do the things that would make us happy and fulfilled and which might help make the world a better place. When a group of squatters takes over an empty building and opens it up as a social centre, their example shows us that there's an alternative to the 9-5 grind. In no way does it show that these people are lazy, scrounging or wanting society to do everything for them. Quite the contrary in fact. The squatters in London Road have been living on a shoestring, have a minimum 'carbon footprint' through reclaiming and re-using discarded stuff, embody the ethos of Do it Yourself, and are giving their time to public-spirited community activity entirely free of charge. We have a lot to learn from them if we took the trouble to open our minds to the possibility that they are reasonable people with hopes, aspirations, a vision of a better world and the courage to try and put that into action. The Methodist Church should put its Christian principles into practice and let these people continue their important work rather than try and make a quick buck for Methodists Inc. by selling the site (nothing's selling now anyway!) All power to the squatters.
A disinterested observer, sitting on the sidelines says...
7:16pm Tue 13 May 08
Why should a farmer who shoots a bugler be sent to prison...
One woman said: "I thought I was going to have a breakdown because of the music. We have had enough of it."
Edward, Albion says...
7:43pm Tue 13 May 08
Steve, Lewes says...
7:47pm Tue 13 May 08
bright, colours says...
9:02pm Tue 13 May 08
hadenough, Brighton says...
9:56pm Tue 13 May 08
legs11 wrote:I can't afford to buy a house here, that's why I have one in France. So no housing profit for me - I rent over here. High wages? - do me a favour.
Hadenough if you really have had enough why dont you go and live in France permanantly, freeing up a much needed house in this country, or do you stay because you also want to get something out of the system, such as housing profit and high wages. The french are very welcoming but they too are getting fed up of empty 2nd homes and English immigrants who want everything provided for such as healthcare, schooling etc. To me you are as bad as anyone you moan about, so live up to your name and do something positive.
OneP.s, NFA Coz of this says...
10:04pm Tue 13 May 08
Kickboxer, Worthing says...
8:29am Wed 14 May 08
Iwork Forme, brighton says...
8:44am Wed 14 May 08
Iwork ForMe, brighton says...
9:09am Wed 14 May 08
Edward wrote:Right or Wrong Concept.
To all who believe in the squatter\\\\\\\'s rights (what a moronic concept). Do you have any comprehension of what is right and wrong? Would you allow someone to break into your home and camp there while you were out for a week or two on holiday? If not, then why not? It\\\\\\\'s just simply wrong. Have there people no respect for other people\\\\\\\'s property/possesions/ &c. Don\\\\\\\'t tell me you actually believe they are operating a beneficial community centre. Use your logic.
bob, Lewes says...
9:59am Wed 14 May 08
T.Ruth, says...
10:24am Wed 14 May 08
splitter101 wrote:I totally agree all you say and wish to add that the squatters must think that the general public are complete fools, but alas, there are some people in authority who are fools and will be taken in by the squatters ploy. I would also like ask this question; who is monitoring the long term effects that secondary cannabis smoke is having on the squatters children?
The reason why you cant let them stay is that its someone elses property, the building may not be up to safety standards, which means they are actually risking their health and safety, as well as the kids they have attend the make shift nursery and there is always the risk of adverse possession (i.e. that they legally claim the property as their own). Although I do think it is morally challenging to leave a building empty for so long while there are homeless people, the few that take advantage spoil it for the genuinely needy. Key issues I have include that the squatters claim to have turned the building into a community centre offering free food, cinema and a childrens nursery but for what community other than their own and are the facilities they provide legal and / or up to the Council requirements? Im also wondering how the squatters are able to finance the free food, the equipment and licence for the cinema as well as the commercial waste licence they would require for running the cinema and nursery. There is also the question as to if staff at the nursery have been police checked, are suitably qualified and are able to ensure the building complies with basic fire and security regulations. In short, is the community centre they suggest real, or spin to gain sympathy and support. This wouldnt be the first time this approach has been used. Does anyone recall the protesters that camped out on the site opposite Preston Park? They claimed that they were there to prevent any more trees being chopped down? Funny how these environmental campaigners begged for hand outs to carry on the protest, started selling home made sauces and progressively burned not only any wood and materials onsite but eventually set light to their own campsite and caravans. Not quite as environmentally friendly as you would expect.
Hardworking family man, says...
11:04am Wed 14 May 08
Hardworking man, says...
11:10am Wed 14 May 08
dave, 88 london road squat says...
2:22pm Wed 14 May 08
Legs11, Brighton says...
3:00pm Wed 14 May 08
dave wrote:I.E. you are doing more than the church is with this property, you dont cost anyone housing benefit and you dont have hysterical right wing views! Disuse causes more decay than anything else so in my eyes you are doing the place a favour until it's time to go, that time in my eyes will be when the church knows what it wants to do with it and has the fiances t and inclination to actually do it!
I live in the church in question and just wanted to make a quick response to a couple of points. Firstly, it was reported in the Argus that a woman commented "I thought I was going to have a breakdown because of the music". We have neither the capacity nor the inclination to play loud music in the building, we respect the local community (who have generally been very supportive) and have received no complaints. Secondly, over the last month we have been working hard on creating a positive, vibrant space and carrying out refurbishments where necessary, in what was a derelict and lifeless space. please don't judge us with ill-informed stereotypes about your perception of what squatters 'should' be like, we are genuinely trying to build a space that offers an alternative to the corporate monotony that engulfs most of Brighton.
bob, lewes says...
3:18pm Wed 14 May 08
squatter's mum, London says...
3:34pm Wed 14 May 08
Anarchist, Brighton says...
6:12pm Wed 14 May 08
Old George in the "ome, brighton says...
7:02pm Wed 14 May 08
Ive got the carbolic, London Road says...
7:06pm Wed 14 May 08
Dobbs, Bob, Preston Circus says...
7:17pm Wed 14 May 08
bob wrote:In all honesty, if I left my possessions unused and broken for some years I wouldn't really have an issue with someone putting them to good use (or be suprised that someone made use of them). But maybe that's just me?
You may well be doing something positive but what you are doing with it, good or bad isnt really the point here..
Ask yourself whether you are happy for anyone to use or take any of your possesions without asking - are you really going to tell us the answers yes?
I\\\'m not at all politically inclined, I happen to think politics is **** and dont care about what left or right wing views are but I know the difference between your and my possessions and what is right.
Dave, At home says...
11:24am Tue 13 May 08