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  • "
    true-brightonian wrote:
    Message to those in favour of Sainsbury's/big business. You are living in a dream world at the moment. Do you honestly believe that our way of life in this country can be sustained with our subservience to corporates and the oil-based economy? I think you may wake up from your dream once the air-freighted guavas run out when oil hits $250 a barrel as undoubtedly will in the near future. As communities we need to become more self-reliant. The Capitalist Dream is running out of steam, can't you see that the writing is on the wall for western our way of life?
    Message to those illegally occupying the old Taj store:
    You are living in dreamworld - where obviously none of you work (as you can't work and occupy somewhere) - propped up by money scrounged from us, the taxpayers of this country.
    Your arrogance is astounding. Who are you to dictate what the working population of the city want?
    If we don't want a Sainsburys, we won't use it and it will close. It's called market forces.
    The writing is on the wall for a way of life that is sustained by state handouts for no work. Our Capitalist Dream is the only reason that you are able to fund your no-work lifestyle. Otherwise you would either starve.
    So don't preach to us about where we should or should not shop.
    Final question: Why was it necessary to spray paint the interior walls with mindless graffitti? Very adult."
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Court evicts Brighton Taj squatters

10:18am Thursday 24th February 2011 in News

ON THE WAY OUT? A squatter starts moving his possessions out of the empty Taj building. Picture by Kevin Meredith. ON THE WAY OUT? A squatter starts moving his possessions out of the empty Taj building. Picture by Kevin Meredith.

By Alex Ariel

A judge has ordered squatters occupying a Kemp Town supermarket to leave within 24 hours or face prosecution.

Members of the group have been sleeping on the floor of the closed down Taj greengrocer store in St James’s Street since February 12 in protest at plans to put a Sainsbury’s store there.

Taj’s parent company went into administration last year after running up debts of millions of pounds.

The St James’s Street store was closed after administrator BDO was appointed.

Yesterday the campaigners, who call themselves SaboTaj, appeared at Brighton County Court where they were served with an Immediate Possession Order (IPO) by District Judge Elaine Thompson.

And this morning, it appeared they were abiding by the order when photographer Kevin Meredith snapped them moving their possessions out of the store.

Camilla Lamont, representing the administrator, said: “They definitely entered without consent and they remain there without consent.”

Judge Thompson told the group: “You must vacate the property within 24 hours of the service of this notice otherwise you will be committing a criminal offence.”

More than 30 members of SaboTaj gathered outside the court after the case to play music and sing.

They say that another chain supermarket on a street which already has a Tesco, Morrisons and Co-op will destroy St James’ Street’s quirky and independent identity but said they have no intention of breaking the law.

One, who only wanted to be known as Rachel, said: “It’s a massive shame. We can do a lot more for the community.

“We don’t need another Sainsbury’s in Brighton.

“We had plans to open up a free school, a children’s space and a library for the community. These things are a lot more positive than a Sainsbury’s.”

Oliver Bettany, from Egremont Place, said: “SaboTaj is David Cameron’s Big Society in action. I am not a member but I have come to support them.

“No one wants another Sainsbury’s. Big business is the enemy of the local community.

“It’s about time the council put its money where its mouth is and did something. In five or ten years our communities will be unrecognisable. There won’t be any community spaces left.”

Sainsbury’s plans to take over the four-storey building but discussions with Brighton and Hove City Council about conditions of the lease are still ongoing.

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