EARLY PART OF THE DAY
On arriving at 1pm we found out that most of the Hackney sales were delayed, especially for our benefit, until 5pm
the samba band began to play outside the main entrance
the 'spoof estate agent' display was set up and got lots of attention from passers by it is proving to be a really useful tool as it is really mobile and as it is really visual so many people stop to check it out and then want to chat to people about what is happening in Hackney we also talked to lots of bidders and asked them not to bid on community properties.

SECURITY

There was massive security in terms of vanloads of police all over the place - There were at least 7 plus lots of police around the hotel, staff were on all doors and windows around the hotel however it was mainly dressing and designed to put people off even trying to get in - the auctions are, after all, public.It turned out that people did not need ID to get in the auction and almost all
people who wanted to go in got in with just very cursory searches of bags.Inside the auction there were huge beefy security everywhere watching every little move it looked completely ridiculous like some Hollywoood movie.

SO AT 5PM - THE HACKNEY SALES

A few couples went to go in. Two people were stopped - it was very obvious that they were protesters, hotel staff said that they had suddenly decided on a dress code of shirts and ties - the two people stopped were women! So while the two argued about being let in - another two from the group walked through the confusion with no problem!
In total six people from Hackney disrupted the sale of Atherden Road Nursery the most controversial of the sales yesterday. This was the former council nursery that wa sclosed by the council then squatted and re-opened as a community centre. The first person, disrupted by standing up and telling people why it should not be sold and about parents having occupied it etc, she was eventually removed by security but was immediately followed by an elderly lady who did the same, and on it went

FAKE BIDDERS

Two people who knew each other started bidding fake bids on Atherden Road, after all the 'ranters' had been removed - they pushed the bids up to £900, 000 - far higher than the expected price, before they were sussed out and asked to leave this is interesting as it was thought that the bids would have to be started all over again but it wasn't. and the top bid was accepted - not the expected thing, but it means more money for the council,a greater than expected amount for the repayment of the councils crippling debts, and possibly a relif for someone for the cuts. Also the greedy property speculator had to pay more than expected.

All in all the whole thing inside was great, the six disrupters didn't know each other before yesterday and had gone there individually to take action andmeanwhile outside the samba band made lots of noise outside the windows of the
auction room all day there was lots of energy about and it all and it ended with a big session of dancing and samba playing - much to the amusement/besmusement of hotel staff and guests and bidders who were still drifting out and being
questioned about what they had bid on. The final smiles came when one person arrived with a crate full of tomatoes
most of us thought 'hurrah food' and started eating them
but while we were eating, obliviously someone noticed that the police thought that the tomatoes were going to be
thrown at them or the hotel staff and immediately moved into formation alongside the dancers and drummers!


THE HOTEL

On leaving one person went to chat to management of the hotel about whether or not it would seem like a good idea financially for them to host another Nelson Bakewell auction and what effect they thought it had had on their very upmarket guests? They were also asked about all the extra security and while they agreed that the security was all paid for by Nelson Bakewell and that must have cost
one hell of a lot (plus presumably having to have the room for twice as long as planned) the Hotel obviously had extra staff on and other staff being unable to do anything else other than stand by doors and windows all day.

PROPERTY NEWS

We were told that the Hackney properties sold really well i.e. fast and for very high prices. This comes as no surprise and backs up our views that the plans for the gentrification of Hackney is going to push house prices
up forcing more and more people on low wages and welfare to have to move out of Hackney.There were reporters and photographers there from 'Property Week' - they came along because they just happened to be in Nelson Bakewell when we
occupied the offices last week and are now going to be doing a piece intheir mag - This is one of the top two property mags and will get a message out to developers that there arepeople who are going to challenge the selling off and privatising of community properties. It will be interesting to read what they have to say about the actions.

* The Old Fire Station, Leswin Rd, Stoke Newington was withdrawn from auction. An offer from the Ethical Property Company is being discussed with present tenants and the council. This offer, while not being perfect (as it still involves the council getting out of providing community groups with buildings in which to be housed) it is still much better than private, profit making developers buying it.

* Turkish and Cypriot Welfare Association, Graham Road, Hackney - withdrawn from the sale - unsure yet why this was.

* Shops on Oldhill Street, Stamford Hill - withdrawn minutes prior to the sale - tenants from one of the shops were there. In the past they had tried to buy the building but were refused. They went long yesterday because they wanted to know who their new landlords would be. Apparently the council are unable, legally, to sell it.

WHAT NEXT?

We have lots of ideas for keeping the pressure on and resisting cuts and sell offs in Hackney and hopfully they will include more actions very soon, you'll hear about them here



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LEAFLET HANDED OUT AT ACTION TO BIDDERS GOING IN TO AUCTION:

HACKNEY IS NOT FOR SALE!

Please do not bid on any community buildings: it will be against the wishes of the community.

We are here today to ask you not to be part of the further decimation of Hackney's (and other borough's) community services, by bidding on any community buildings. Nelson Bakewell are the property advisors to Hackney council on
their 'disposals' programme. They make a lot of money from these and other community sales and they do so with total disregard for the people who are personally affected by losing their day care centres, playgrounds, welfare and
advice centres, green spaces, homes and livelihoods. We and thousands of Hackney residents find this completely unacceptable.

Earlier this year, parents occupied Atherden Road Nursery to stop the council from closing it. The council lied to them and said they would keep it open.The parents believed them and stopped the occupation. The next month the council
closed it. It was then occupied by people who reopened it as a much needed community centre. They were evicted after 3 months. The council had lied in court and said that it would not be sold. The building is in the sale today,
yet over 1,000 Hackney children are awaiting nursery places.
On Friday some of us occupied and shut down Nelson Bakewell's finance department in their head office in protest against the sell offs. They had tostop work and send their staff home.

We will continue to take action to stop these buildings and services being lost to our community forever. People are angry at these never ending community cuts. It must stop, enough is enough.


HOW CAN YOU HELP?

Do NOT bid on community properties! If you are unsure as to whether or not the building you are trying to buy is a community building ask questions of the auctioneer and / or Nelson Bakewell. If community buildings come up for
sale we urge you to help us by disrupting the bidding in whatever way you can.

For more information about the Hackney sell offs
email us at:  hackney4sale@yahoo.co.uk
==============================================
LEAFLETS HANDED OUT TO PASSERS BY:

HACKNEY IS NOT FOR SALE !


What's going on today? We are here today because inside this hotel there is an auction going on thataims to sell off our community buildings in Hackney. This is against the
wishes of the people of Hackney. Today we are asking people and developers, not to bid on our community assets.

What's going on in Hackney?

Hackney council is systematically cutting jobs and 'disposing' of community services by selling their buildings and slashing their funding. In reality this
means that much needed, and already over-crowded services such as; day care centres, playgrounds, welfare and advice centres and green spaces are disappearing overnight, despite massive opposition from those who most need
them. Hackney is one of the poorest boroughs in Hackney and removing the little that people have is an outrage.

Who are Nelson Bakewell?

They play an essential role in the sale of Hackney's community assets by carrying out these sales and by being the advisor to Hackney council on their 'disposals' programme. While the community suffers Nelson Bakewell make
lots of money.

What next?

We will continue to take actions to halt these and other cuts and sell offs in Hackney and we will share information with others elsewhere who are undoubtedly suffering similar attacks on their communities.

What can you do about it?

· Go into the Hotel and try to stop the auction going ahead.
· Complain to Nelson Bakewell on: 020 7544 2245 + demand
that they withdraw community properties from this + any
future sales.
· Contact your local community groups and see if they are
under threat - if they are; get involved and help protect
what little community services we all have left.
· Contact us:  hackney4sale@yahoo.co.uk for more information
and/or to get involved in Hackney.