April 29, 2008
Portland Square squat gets reprieve in Bristol County Court
Bristol squatters were in Greyfriars court this morning to oppose the granting of an Interim Posession Order (IPO) against the occupiers of the Red Factory squat in Portland Square. If granted, residents would have had to leave within 24 hours or face criminal proceedings. Owners Askon estates, a large multinational based in Dublin with interests in the Middle East, failed to name a date when they knew the building had been squatted. They are required to do this under the provisions of the 1997 Criminal Justice Act (CJA) – an infamous piece of legislation bought in the last gasp of Major’s Conservative government..
The Red Factory is a large squat at the junction of Cave Street and Portland Square in St. Pauls, Bristol. Occupied in the middle of January 2008 by a pioneering group of squatters who braved pigeon dust, damp and absence of all services, it has become home to a dozen homeless people and holds regular community events including a cinema. The building has been tidied up, painted and made habitable by people who would otherwise have been sleeping on Bristol’s streets.
With a controversial open door policy the Red Factory has been, at times, a difficult squat to run but has taken into account the concerns of neighbours including the Perion Centre next door.
The Red Factory collective are committed to running the building as a community enterprise as recommended in the St. Pauls neighbourhood plan. They have contacted Askon to see if they can secure the building for community use and have made a substantial financial offer .
If Askon had won today’s case the building would become empty and lain derelict, as it has for more than twenty years. Despite taking ownership around the year 2000 Askon have done next to nothing with the building. With the onset of the current property price crash it seems unlikely they could sell it quickly, particularly because the building is grade two listed and would need up to £1m to restore.
Bristol Housing Action Movement is making an appeal for suport for the Red Factory, both financially and in any practical way possible. We believe the squatters may face another court case, and welcome any support. Contact Ben from Bham on 07833 100399 or by email at housingaction@yahoo.co.uk
The Pierian Centre :
http://www.pierian-centre.com/
A space for conferences, meetings and celebrations of all shapes and sizes.
Located in Grade 1-listed Portland Square, the Centre is an oasis of calm right in the heart of Bristol. Within easy reach of the M32, the City Centre and Temple Meads railway station, we have ample parking right here in the Square. You can book a room for your own event – and also browse the range of open events and activities on offer.
Askon Estates (UK) Limited
http://www.alacrastore.com/storecontent/experian/03489912
http://www.yourlocalpages.co.uk/business/legislative-bo…-ltd/
16 St Stephens Street
Bristol
Avon
BS1 1JR
Tel : 0117-925-4570
Fax : 0117-922-6816
Revived in 1984, Bristol Housing Action (BHAM) is a non-heirarchical collective of sqatters and their supporters. We help provide housing and other support for homeless people.
http://www.squatbristol.org.uk/
We are committed to the opening of community spaces and to solidarity with existing social centres.We campaign against the privatisation of public land and housing and for the defence of public space.