Occupation Of 34 Broadway Market, E8 - info and updates

That's still to be worked out - hopefully, yes. It's very on top and we need as much support from as many people as possible.

OCCUPATION OF 34 BROADWAY MARKET

– UPDATE – UPDATE – UPDATE -

THANK YOU….

First of all thank you to all local residents who have been so supportive of this action!

Special thanks to the many who have donated time food, heaters and other useful things.

SUPPORT

It seems that the majority of local people support what we’ve done. Many have commented on how angry they are that after 30 years Tony was forced out of Broadway Market and that Tony represents part of Broadway Market that is being pushed out as the area is gentrified.

DEMOLITION STOPPED – WHAT NEXT?

Our first goal has been achieved! A group of local people have taken legal possession and secured the premises and on Monday 28th of November we prevented the scheduled demolition of Tony’s Café.

We have cleaned up the mess left after Tony’s eviction and made the place warm and welcoming for anyone who wants to drop in. Many people have already come for a cup of tea and t find out more about what’s been going on.

Also we have heard that Hackney Council have reviewed the original planning application for the site and come to the conclusion that it should not have been issued in the manner that it was. Our legal advisors are saying that the approval of the application was not a formal decision and we are now at the stage where the planning application can go to judicial review.

SECURITY

Our occupation of the premises is entirely legal. However we have to keep it secure. Friendly locals are invited to drop in but we have to be careful not to let representatives of the developer come through the door and attempt to repossess the cafe and start demolition. Please beware that although the building is occupied 24 hours a day, the front door is always locked. This is a necessity because of the legal position we are in.

Personally speaking - I think still holding the property by this weekend will be a major acheivment.

This weekend will be particularly busy though - Not only is there the occupation site to maintain and hold, there is also publicity around the 'Farmers' Market which will be taking place.

Hackney Independent, which fully supports the occupation, will also have special edition (5,000 copies) of their newsletter to distribute throughout the usual local delivery area.

Hackney Gazette frontpage: Thursday December 1, 2005

WE MEAN BUSINESS: Squatters with a cause occupy café

Campaigners have staged a midnight takeover of a popular greasy spoon to save it from demolition.

The self-styled ‘squatters with a cause’ invaded the former Francesca’s café in Broadway Market hours before workmen were due to gut it on Monday morning.

Calling themselves the ‘Save Broadway Market Campaign’, the highly organised group say the move is part of their quest to save the area from developers.

The Gazette gained access to the building and found members were stocked up with food and water, keeping warm with electric heaters and even had a TV set up inside.

Group spokesman Arthur Shuter claimed up to 50 people were working in shifts to protect the building and would stay there for six months under ‘squatters rights’.

He blames a string of Broadway Market business closures on the cheap sell-off of public properties by a cash-strapped Hackney Council in 2000 and 2001.

“We want to stop the rot and prevent developers from taking businesses and homes from the people of Hackney,” Mr Shuter told the Gazette.

The café was run by Tone Platia until he was evicted in July when his lease run out and it closed.

My Shuter says the group is demanding that his business is handed back.

“Tony was one of the first victims of the council sell off,” he said. “Francesca’s was a meeting point for the community who lived here all their lives.”

“He had a business for 31 years and we want him back in here,” he added.

“This is just the first phase of the battle – we won’t stop until the truth comes out and we take back all these properties from developers.”

Manchester-based Thermatic Building Services Ltd owns the building and was due to replace the café with a new eatery and flats.

That company is owned by Market House Ltd, which is controlled by property developer Dr. Roger Wratten. He owns a number of properties in Broadway Market.

Dr. Wratten would not comment on the latest row, but Thermatic’s managing director David Oakley told the Gazette he was taking legal advice.

“It’s all going to be developed in keeping with the theme of the area and it will be an asset to it,” he said.

Hackney’s deputy mayor, Cllr Jessica Crowe, explained that properties on the street were sold when the council was “under legally-binding directions from the Government”.

“These required the council to sell surplus property to get it out of the financial crisis that developed when it was under no overall control,” she said.

“All local authorities must by law get market value when they sell property.”

Hackney police have confirmed they are aware of the situation and that officers have been in contact with the protesters and owner.

Cottonwood i like to help, but time constrictions make it difficult at the mo. Anything else other than doing shifts, i can do? Do you folks need anything?

Anytime periods you desparately need covering?

It's difficult from here to give an exact answer - the only thing I can really say is to turn-up at the occupation and talk to people here.

Because of security considerations the door is always locked - however, my mobile is 07883399213. Cheers.

Hmmm... can't find any contact details for Thermatic Building Services Ltd.... interesting.

It's outrageous, whatever next!

PPS: This is not squatting or a squat - it is an occupation.

You would not believe the web of deceit, lies and bullshit that surrounds not just Wratten but the entire property sell-off in Hackney council. It is shocking.

Wratten has made many, many enemies over the years. For instance, yesterday evening a building came in voicing support for the action - one of whose reasons for doing so was because Wratten had refused to pay him £400 for work that he had carried out in a nearby property.