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Stroud Community centre squatters face eviction

BBC campaigners outside Gloucestershire County Court with placards.BBC
S.I.S.T.E.R. have been operating out of the building for two months

A group of people who set up a community centre over the summer are facing eviction.

Gloucestershire County Council said the group were occupying the building on Lansdown Road in Stroud illegally.

The group called S.I.S.T.E.R - Stroud in Internationalist Solidarity Together for Earth Repair - said they were building a legal case.

The council says it plans to offer the building to community organisations using a transparent bidding process.

So far, 143 people have signed an open letter in support of the squatters.

Notable signatories include the Co-founder of Extinction Rebellion, Gail Bradbrook, the Managing Director of Stroud Brewery Gregg Pilley and Green Councillor Chloe Turner.

Members of the group said they had received the court papers less than 48 hours before their hearing.

Nora Dowdeswell from S.I.S.T.E.R said: "We think it's a real shame that the response that we've got from this work is to have it all shut down straight away when we've provided some valuable services."

Protestors with placards saying 'empty properties are a scandal.'
S.I.S.T.E.R have been running educational classes and a community café out of the empty building owned by the council

Simon Jacobson, a supporter of S.I.S.T.E.R, said: "I just think they've been making great use of this empty building, which is owned by the County Council and they are not doing anything with it" he said, adding that "It's been a fantastic community resource."

The case has been adjourned with a date expected for two to three weeks time.

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