For a report on the attempted eviction, see:  http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2008/05/398725.html

LOCAL SUPPORT

Since the events of a week ago, when a large number of Brighton residents witnessed the day-long attempted eviction of the squatters and the story was featured on the front page of the local evening paper, support for the squatters has been growing, with a lot of positive feedback, offers of help and donations of food from local residents and shops.

METHODISTS - A DODGY CORPORATION

Few people seem to be convinced by the Methodist Church's position that it 'needs' the building back again, especially as it has been left empty for several years already. The Methodist Church is now so rich and profitable that it has been forced to register as a corporation rather than a charity and the job of the trustees is to make as much profit for the corporation as they can, which they do by making the usual dodgy investments with a few lame excuses for failing to drop these. Of its investments in Nestle, for instance, it says: "[Nestle's] operations are not unethical in a way to preclude investment." Since it also invests in Rio Tinto and BP, one wonders just what a company might have to do to be considered unsuitable for Methodist investment. A quick look at the make-up of the Central Finance Board of the Methodist Church sheds some light on the situation - the board includes former managing director of BAE Systems Pensions fund, John Gibbon, along with accountants, tax experts and other financial high-flyers from a range of private companies.

NEW LONDON ROAD - BRIGHT OR BLIGHT?

It seems likely that the Methodist Church hopes to cash in on investment proposals for 'revitalising' the healthy mix of local shops along London Road by demolishing them and creating a so-called 'Bright New London Road',  http://www.brightnewlondonroad.co.uk. The only non-negotiable part of this plan appears to be a Tesco superstore and car park. See  http://www.transitionbrightonandhove.org.uk/2008/05/friday-9th-may-at-7pm-community-base.html for more information on these proposals. Many of the local people and shopkeepers who have given their support to the London Road squatters have also expressed serious concerns about these development plans.

COMMUNITY BUSINESS AS USUAL

While the residents of 88 London Road remain in the church, they plan to continue to use it as a community space and to run their 'free kaff' with surplus food which would otherwise have ended up as methane-producing landfill.

PRE-EVICTION CALL-OUT

If you're in the Brighton area, please keep an eye on  http://www.indymedia.org.uk for news of further eviction attempts. If you can get yourselves down to the church to assist and resist when it's needed, this would be much appreciated.

Cheers!