Broadway Market
The battle of Broadway Market
A report from Hackney Independent on the recent protests at Broadway Market.
Most people in Hackney have heard about the protests going on in Broadway Market over the last three months. Since November members of the local community have been occupying Francesca's Cafe and held many protests and public meetings and generated nationwide interest in the campaign.
Broadway Market café occupation - updates and background
Updates and background information about local residents' occupation of Francesca's Café in Broadway Market in Hackney, East London.
The Cafe was seized to prevent its demolition and conversion into luxury flats by property developer Dr Roger Wratten.
Updates and stories on libcom.org news
27 Mar: The battle of Broadway Market, from Hackney Independent
Evicted! But it's not over yet!
The long running campaign in Hackney saw the eviction of Broadway Market and the occupation of Dalston Lane theatre this week in a struggle that looks set to continue for some time to come.
The following statement was posted on the campaign's website:
EVICTED - BUT THIS CAMPAIGN IS FAR FROM OVER
Broadway Market Evicted
34 Broadway Market, occupied since the end of November against property developers, was evicted at 4.30am this morning.
A street protest has been called at 6pm this evening in front of the café.
More info:
Broadway Markey occupation feature and updates on libcom.org news
http://libcom.org/news/article.php/broadway-market-cafe-occupation-2005-6
occupation homepage:
http://34broadwaymarket.omweb.org/
Broadway Market: Second eviction threat
Following the occupation of Tony's Café on Broadway Market, another shop on the same street is also set for eviction.
Spirit, who runs the Nutritious Food Gallery at no. 71 has a court date on 27th January and may be evicted soon after that.
A statement from the occupiers of 34 Broadway Market follows:
EVICTION THREAT
Broadway Market cafe re-taken by residents
On Boxing Day morning, a new group of supporters of the campaign managed to enter and re-occupy Café Francesca in Broadway Market, East London.
The cafe had been occupied by local residents for weeks, in protest against gentrification and the cut-price selling of publicly-owned property in the area to developers.
BBC London footage (AVI format, 6.7mb)
Bailiffs and builders trashed the cafe after they and police evicted the local campaigners before Christmas.
Occupied Cafe Evicted
Sheriffs and Police broke into the occupied Tony's Café on Broadway Market at 7.00am this morning, injuring one of the occupiers and have allowed property developer Dr Wratten's men to start an immediate demolition.
Within an hour the building was rendered unliveable.
One of the participants said:
"We lodged an appeal yesterday with the High Court but the bailiffs ignored that and went ahead anyway. Two of the occupiers are at the courts right now trying to get a stay of execution but Wratten's men have done so much damage that it seems unlikely we could re-occupy the café.
Broadway Market occupation - two weeks on
Café Francesca in Broadway Market, Hackney has been occupied for two weeks by local people to prevent its demolition by property developer Dr Roger Wratten and conversion into luxury flats.
The occupation has received widespread press coverage, overwhelming local support and looks set to continue for some time. Hundreds of people have visited the café in the past 14 days bringing food, furniture and donations, over 60 people are on the shift rota and local residents associations have passed resolutions in favour of the occupation with offers of practical support.
Broadway Market occupation
An article from the Hackney Independent Winter Newsletter on the Broadway Market occupation.
Broadway Market Hackney: Café Occupation
Francesca's Café at 34 Broadway Market in Hackney, London has been occupied by local people to prevent it's demolition by developer Dr. Roger Wratten who plans to build luxury flats on the site.
The occupation made the front page of Hackney Gazette on Thursday, and has been covered by metamute in more depth, but needs much more publicity and practical support if it is going to continue for more than a few days.
Broadway Market Occupation
Image gallery from the occupation of Francesca's Café on Broadway Market, Hackney. There was also an occupation of Dalston Theatre, and a campaign to prevent the eviction of Spirit's shop, also on Broadway Market. For details, see the libcom news feature. Images of the eviction kindly provided by Gabrielle Motola.
