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Brighton squatters evicted
9:04am Thursday 3rd July 2008
Squatters have been evicted from a disused church.
Dozens of people were kicked out of the former Methodist Church in London Road, Brighton, this morning.
The squatters moved into the building on April 11 and have converted it into a community centre.
The squatters said they were now homeless.
The squatters said they had converted the building into a community centre offering cinema nights, yoga workshops, a children's nursery and free food and coffee to passers-by.
Floyd Coombs, 21, said: "We have been trying to create a social centre for the community.
"We have made the building habitable and sanitary, and have opened it to the wider public.
"Our aim was to provide a service to the community which doesn't cost the world to use.
"There are about 15 people who live here permanently and many others who visit daily.
"We have a heavy-handed anti-drugs policy because we have seen how they destroy squats."
University of Sussex anthropology student Abi Sweet, 20, said: "I also have a job but chose to live here because I was interested in getting an alternative social centre set up.
"When this area is redeveloped there will be nothing for children and families that you don't have to pay for."
The squatters claim they were welcomed by residents and often fed by traders.
Tina Johnson, 29, of London Road, said: "I live nearby and they have caused no problems.
"They aren't drug addicts or bad people. I walk by and chat with them every morning.
"They have nowhere to live and were taking advantage, and improving an empty building."
Bailiffs attempted to remove the squatters on May 12 but they barricaded themselves in.
They successfully entered the building yesterday but needed scaffolding to reach squatters who hid in a net hammock attached to the ceiling.
A Sussex Police spokeswoman said: "Bailiffs are going in with the squatters one by one for them to collect their things.
"Two people were arrested for obstructing court officials."
Three planning applications have been submitted to Brighton and Hove City Council to demolish the church and build flats.
In a previous statement, a Methodist Church spokesman said: "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."
Your Say YourArgus
Jimmy Johnson, Moulescombe says...
9:18am Thu 3 Jul 08
f, brighton says...
9:25am Thu 3 Jul 08
The church was an inspirational squat that resisted both the police and the courts for longer than anyone hoped.
Good luck with the next one :)
SS, Brighton says...
10:20am Thu 3 Jul 08
Bobby, Hanover says...
10:21am Thu 3 Jul 08
mark, brighton says...
10:26am Thu 3 Jul 08
Simon, B Right On says...
10:48am Thu 3 Jul 08
- isn't that a good argument to let them live in somewhere with facilities (especially if it's unused)?
Ben Martin, Brighton says...
11:04am Thu 3 Jul 08
Brilliant.
anti-god, here says...
11:05am Thu 3 Jul 08
neil, lewes rd says...
11:05am Thu 3 Jul 08
Jim, Brighton says...
11:14am Thu 3 Jul 08
SS wrote:Cuz not everybody wants to have the same life as you.
Good, why don't they get jobs and pay rent or mortgages like the rest of us. Lazy hippies.
And you sound really happy with yours!
Now get yourself down to Starbucks and later on watch some TV, before getting so drunk on a weekend it's the only way to block out the misery!
A, Brighton says...
11:40am Thu 3 Jul 08
No, Way says...
11:47am Thu 3 Jul 08
Ben Martin, Brighton says...
11:53am Thu 3 Jul 08
No wrote:Squatters arent thieves.
Squatters are thieves. Squatters Rights is an Oxymoron. Squatters need to get a life and get a frickin' job. Get a job, get some money, get your OWN house. Scum.
'Squatters Rights' is not an oxymoron.
Squatters do have lives, and many have jobs, for which they are paid and therefore have money.
Not everyone has their own house, many so called 'homeowners' are merely in situ due to organising a loan from a bank. This is called a mortgage.
Not scum.
neil, lewes road says...
12:00pm Thu 3 Jul 08
M, Brighton says...
12:03pm Thu 3 Jul 08
it continues.
SQUAT THE LOT!
jon, brighton says...
12:36pm Thu 3 Jul 08
Brigadier Hitchcock, Brighton says...
12:41pm Thu 3 Jul 08
SS wrote:Exactly the rancid hippies are a strain on Society. They are homeless, so what, get a job, get a life and stop smoking spliffs and do something with your life for god sakes. Glad they got evicted, they have no right to be there. Although I am sure they will be an old type van up Preston Park Avenue or near Preston Park with them all in eating out of date beans out of a tin.
Good, why don\'t they get jobs and pay rent or mortgages like the rest of us. Lazy hippies.
Mr.P.Osh, Brightoon says...
1:10pm Thu 3 Jul 08
Jim wrote:As opposed to getting yourself down to Somerfields and buying a Special Brew and getting drunk every morning and watching the traffic on the Level I suppose. Scumbag.
SS wrote:Cuz not everybody wants to have the same life as you.
Good, why don\'t they get jobs and pay rent or mortgages like the rest of us. Lazy hippies.
And you sound really happy with yours!
Now get yourself down to Starbucks and later on watch some TV, before getting so drunk on a weekend it\'s the only way to block out the misery!
James Farter, Brighton says...
1:16pm Thu 3 Jul 08
Brighton has a long tradition of squatting and resisting evictions go back generations so its good to see
it continues.
SQUAT THE LOT!
Well that's lovely.. We've got a rich history of blood sports as well.. Do you support these too? We've also got a long history of war against other countries forcing our rule on the Empire. Shall we see this continue?
No. Obviously not, they are out dated practises as is squatting.
Squatting is for people who can't be bothered to work for a living. If you want to see an empty property used, buy it, and then you can!
The majority of squatters=druggy/dru
nk work shy, soap dodging scum
The Mallen, Brighton says...
1:35pm Thu 3 Jul 08
Ben Martin wrote:I bet this Ben Martin is happily getting his handout on a regular basis. Stop trying to talk down to people, if you do have your own property (which i doubt) then i hope a mob of these, dirty, lazy creatures move in next door to you and make your life a misery like they have done to so many others. Now if you dont mind i have to get back to "work" to help fund this disgusting lifestyle.
No wrote: Squatters are thieves. Squatters Rights is an Oxymoron. Squatters need to get a life and get a frickin\' job. Get a job, get some money, get your OWN house. Scum.Squatters arent thieves. \'Squatters Rights\' is not an oxymoron. Squatters do have lives, and many have jobs, for which they are paid and therefore have money. Not everyone has their own house, many so called \'homeowners\' are merely in situ due to organising a loan from a bank. This is called a mortgage. Not scum.
dave, Hove says...
1:54pm Thu 3 Jul 08
Josh, Brighton says...
2:09pm Thu 3 Jul 08
James Farter, Brighton says...
2:14pm Thu 3 Jul 08
I have a 2(1) from sussex and yet all I can see on the horizon is endless sales jobs to make me feel dirty and used
What degree did you? Perhaps when choosing you should have looked at the job opportunities out there..
The Science Graduate asks "Why does this work"
The Engineering Graduate asks "How does this work"
The Mathematics graduate asks "How much will it take to get this to work?"
The Art graduate asks "Do you want fries with that!"
leon, Brighton says...
2:23pm Thu 3 Jul 08
chris elmes, shoreham by sea says...
2:25pm Thu 3 Jul 08
Andy H, Patcham says...
2:29pm Thu 3 Jul 08
James Farter wrote:I'm afraid James has a point, Art graduates will gain on average £25,000 more in their lifetime than an average person with 2 A-levels. This counts with £50,000 for Humanities graduates and something mad like £200,000 for Mathmatic graduates. Still better to do something you love.
I have a 2(1) from sussex and yet all I can see on the horizon is endless sales jobs to make me feel dirty and used
What degree did you? Perhaps when choosing you should have looked at the job opportunities out there..
The Science Graduate asks \"Why does this work\"
The Engineering Graduate asks \"How does this work\"
The Mathematics graduate asks \"How much will it take to get this to work?\"
The Art graduate asks \"Do you want fries with that!\"
Anyway, back to the topic in hand, nice to see generalisation in full force here. Walked past them this morning and they hardly looked like the drug-taking, thieving boogy-man portrayed here. I felt more sorry that they had to live in London Road for two months over anything else.
Con Dominium, Brighton says...
2:50pm Thu 3 Jul 08
Rob, Brighton says...
4:06pm Thu 3 Jul 08
M. Herzberg, amsterdam says...
4:12pm Thu 3 Jul 08
Shame on the so called church that kicked them out instead of working on a permanent community center solution with them.
Jon, Here says...
4:41pm Thu 3 Jul 08
caeos, says...
6:50pm Thu 3 Jul 08
Fiona, Brighton says...
8:09pm Thu 3 Jul 08
m, says...
9:00pm Thu 3 Jul 08
There should have been a photo dipicting the crowds of them as passersby stood agog relating how when assults and reports had been made to the police they have said they are too busy to respond. Why has this incident been played down?
I thought it would have made a brilliant story even getting the passerby comments and photo of gangs of police incredble
C.Her, Hollywood says...
9:28pm Thu 3 Jul 08
Lord Boss Am, Well off now thank you says...
1:24am Fri 4 Jul 08
martin, brighton says...
6:06am Fri 4 Jul 08
Why did someone remove this post from here?
Has Bassam done much more for this city or for himself?
You decide!
(Squatters have already moved into the old Buxtons furniture shop near the level.
They have a better view and a much larger building.)
Lex, Brighton says...
10:44am Fri 4 Jul 08
The Door Opener, Anywhere they squat says...
2:00pm Fri 4 Jul 08
Free food?
A cafe?
Improved the building?
Shame on you.
Liers and hypocrites.
The building was
barricaded.
The doors nailed shut
rubbish was strewn everywhere.
The kitchen was filthy.
The building was in a worse condition after you "improved" it to when it was empty - you only have to look at the pictures on your own myspace page to see how much worse you had made it. They show a nice clean orderly space - not the rubbish bin that was emptied yesterday.
The door only opened when they wanted one of their own to be let in - until the right key was used.
If you break the law - you will be punished. Squatting however you glam it up is illegal. You are in a property that is not yours. You do not have permission to be there. You have broken in. Its about time that the truth behind so called "squatters rights" is out and the full weight of the law put behind prosecuting you. Tresspass, breaking and entering, criminal damage, assault. Take your pick.
We will meet again.
Janine, Brighton says...
7:41pm Sun 6 Jul 08
leon wrote:And the media graduate says 'have you got a boots card' just study GREEN ISSUES and for the next ten years you will be sure of a job, at Brighton Council at least.
...and the Hair and beauty graduate asks "I'm goin' down the bingo tonight... will you look after Wayne, Shane and Dwayne? "
Dave, UK says...
7:40pm Mon 7 Jul 08
What's wrong with empty buildings being used by squatters providing they don't damage it?!?
The authorities are too often heavy handed in their approach and seem to employ thugs to bully citizens of this country.
We used to have freedom to roam without question. Watch out now Big Brother is watching and monitoring your every move and that means you! Remember you're useful alive and working as you create a lot of wealth for the authorities to squander!
***
Rob, England says...
7:46pm Mon 7 Jul 08
I feel sorry for the people who choose a differnt lifestyle to the rest of us.
I think they deserve a break from all the harassment.
Funky Dread, Planet Earth says...
7:52pm Mon 7 Jul 08
The Door Opener wrote:Squatting isn't illegal.
A community centre? Open to the public? Free food? A cafe? Improved the building? Shame on you. Liers and hypocrites. The building was barricaded. The doors nailed shut rubbish was strewn everywhere. The kitchen was filthy. The building was in a worse condition after you "improved" it to when it was empty - you only have to look at the pictures on your own myspace page to see how much worse you had made it. They show a nice clean orderly space - not the rubbish bin that was emptied yesterday. The door only opened when they wanted one of their own to be let in - until the right key was used. If you break the law - you will be punished. Squatting however you glam it up is illegal. You are in a property that is not yours. You do not have permission to be there. You have broken in. Its about time that the truth behind so called "squatters rights" is out and the full weight of the law put behind prosecuting you. Tresspass, breaking and entering, criminal damage, assault. Take your pick. We will meet again.
If there's an empty disused building going to waste why can't it be used for shelter? It would have been used for precisely that during the war!
Stop bullying these people.
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The evicted squatters in London Road this morning
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Klara, Hove says...
9:17am Thu 3 Jul 08