Nothing comes for Free?
Today was the first court hearing for 35 and 37 Stokes Croft, or the Free Shop and the Emporium. Empty for decades, the occupation of the buildings by squatters in the last two and a half years has brought about a massive rejuvenation of the crumbling buildings – so badly maintained by their absentee landowner that the council placed them within section 54, the at risk register, (used for graded buildings so badly neglected that they are need urgent renovation) they also initiated a compulsory purchase order to force a sale by the owner.
In the last couple years of their occupation, these derelict buildings have had a massive amount of work poured into them. Both shop fronts were entirely built from scratch. The collapsing floors, the hole-ridden roofs, the frontage and structure of both buildings has been maintained and rebuilt through a massive effort on the part of a large group of people. With this transformation has come a complete change of purpose, from derelict empty eyesores to local resources.

For two years, The Emporium has been a not-for-profit events space, where grass roots projects or individuals who might normally have had difficulty in holding an event, be that an exhibition, film night, discussion group or skill-share, can do so, free of charge and not for personal profit. This has stood against the commodification of performance, art and gatherings that has accompanied Bristol’s rise as Britain’s ‘street art capital’ and the festival scene. Next door, the Free Shop has become an invaluable local resource, with a massive amount of clothing, books and household supplies all available for nothing, to anyone who needs them.Many in the area do, so much so that social services are now referring people to the ‘shop’ for their needs. As the ‘welfare system’ crumbles around us, the Freeshop has shown that communal support networks can offer alternatives to state support – we can provide for ourselves, sharing resources, information and support.

But today, with no effort made to negotiate with the groups occupying both buildings, the owners – a company based entirely in Hong Kong, who have made absolutely no attempt at any form of use, upkeep or repair to either building in their seventeen years of ownership, and who have had no clear interest from anyone in buying the building – began eviction proceedings in the county court, utterly ignoring the occupiers offer to negotiate and reach a mutual agreement to leave voluntarily.

Proceedings have now been adjourned to a further hearing in December, after the judge allowed for the possibility of viable arguments against the owners claim of possession. As the government – backed by the corporate media - launches its drive to ‘shut the door to squatters once and for all’, preparing perhaps for an attempt to criminalise trespass, the case of these buildings has demonstrated that squatters are often a key part of their communities, that the rejuvenation and use of otherwise empty buildings that squatting represents is widespread and important –and still legal, necessary and free.

The groups involved will be garnering support for their cause in the run up to the next court hearing, and attempting to reach an agreement with the owners that will allow the Freeshop and The Emporium to continue, rather than the buildings inevitably to lie empty and useless once more…
So come down to the Freeshop, open every Thursday, Friday and Saturday from 2-5pm, and check http://www.emporium37.wordpress.com to find out what’s going on at the Emporium.