CLAPTON SQUARE CAMPAIGN
SQUATTERS STAND-OFF AT SOCIAL SERVICES

A group of homeless people successfully resisted an attempted eviction by property developers today (D14) at 30 Clapton Square, Hackney , London E.5.

The firm of developers, Furlongs, plan to demolish this community space, destroying mature trees in the process.
By defending the building and trees with a tree house and barricades, we have saved this space for now - if you're in the neighbourhood drop by for a chat.

There is more at stake here than the flattening of an old council property and the defence of a listed tree. This building has offered homeless artists a chance at setting up a base and finding ways of realising our potentials. The once empty offices now host community art events, cinema nights and make workshop space for future talent, offering rehearsal space to youth theatre groups and dancers.

Free space like this is hard to find in Hackney, especially given the recent cutbacks and closures of community services, and the sell-offs of public land to private firms, intent on redeveloping sites in order unaffordable properties.

Is out-pricing and under-funded resources the future in Hackney? And where are people supposed to go when they find themselves with housing problems? To Social Services? Well, that's not possible anymore, they've been shut down to make way for luxury flats!

This campaign is more than about defending the rights of nature. We are campaigning to defend our right to shelter. And we are defending the right to a future for the people of Hackney.