constantly evicticing

bristol | community | announcement Tuesday February 22, 2011 20:26 by britol squatters

Former Drop-in Centre  "The Hub" resist eviction!

Bristol's former Drop-in Centre "The Hub" successfully resisted eviction on Friday by notorious bailiffs Constant & Co. The Drop-in centre closed in December due to cuts in funding. In January, it was re-opened by a group of squatters in protest at the massive cuts to services for the homeless. The adjacent building, which has been empty for nine years and is owned by the same London property company has been and continues to be used as emergency housing for the homeless.

The bailiff company contracted to carry out the eviction, Constant & co., are under investigation by the Health and Safety Executive following evictions of Traveller sites across the country and were responsible for the bulldozing of the Bristol Eco village last year. Constant & co. have also been contracted to evict Europe's biggest traveller site, Dale Farm, home to around 1000 people who own the land they live on.

On Friday morning the building appeared heavily barricaded. A pirate flag flew from the chimney and banners hung from the windows: “80% cuts to sheltered housing”, “Less posh flats, more social housing” and “Mr. Constant you will receive a warm welcome at Dale Farm”.

At around 2pm, one bailiff arrived to post papers on the building and carry out a first inspection. He was met with a group of around 15 persons dressed in black, who surrounded him and prevented him from posting the eviction notice. The bailiff then retreated to his car. He was, however, unable to leave as the road had been barricaded with two lines of skips and bins. barrels of oil had been spilt over the road. The street was also blocked by neighbouring builders who had accidentally left their cherry picker blocking the exit during tea break.

Three vans of policemen arrived shortly after, along with a fire engine and helicopter. Onlookers were filmed and photographed by Police, who removed the bins and the bailiff from his vehicle. They then appear to have taken him to their van to breathalyse him while fire teams cleared the spilt petrol. After negotiations with the masked persons defending the Hub, Police gave assurances that the eviction would not be allowed today and the builders returned from tea break to remove their cherry picker.

The squatters, who prefer to describe themselves as “the empowered homeless” have called out for support as the centre remains under “Constant threat”.

Contact:

Simon Clarke, 0718630361, thenewhub@yahoo.co.uk,syfly5@hotmail.co.uk