In August 2005, A building in Burns Street, Nottingham, empty at that time for 7 YEARS, had been occupied by squatters. The neighbours constantly fed up with the council inaction, a mess in the garden, drug abusers round the back of the property, windows smashed. Not something you would like to live next door to. Thus, the group had much community support, secure in their new home, there was much tidying up to do.

BEFORE: New Squatting Project in Nottingham
 http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/regions/nottinghamshire/2005/08/321108.html

AFTER: Nottingham Squatting Project, The Tidy-Up
 http://indymedia.org.uk/en/regions/nottinghamshire/2005/08/321800.html

It was within the first week, that the councils reaction was obvious, a notice to quit, and threatened eviction. Undeterred, you'll see in the pictures a great many folks put effort into renovation and tidying up. It transformed the place, and the immediate area.

Folks were there for 3 years. activities and events being arranged. Even got some local councilors and the Chief Executive of Nottingham City Council dropping by at the ASBO for tea and a bun!
 http://indymedia.org.uk/en/regions/nottinghamshire/2006/03/334933.html

It even got included in the community centres listing on the councils website, as if it was their provision! Cheeky bastards!!

People had left last year. The council now having care and responsibility over the place again. Passing by this week, I thought I would take this set of pictures to show what happens when empty building are in council care. NOTHING.

I think it criminal and in my opinion, they don't have any defence for inaction.

Reading the Evening Post, I was interested to read their article "Grot spot cannot be cleared up" Wednesday 15th July 2009. The article tells of a similar situation in Clifton and yet more inaction. I mean it's a widespread issue, innit?

Including this quote: "...... has written to the Government Office for the East Midlands to ask them to invoke a Public Request to Order Disposal. PRODs are a legal power that anybody can use to force the sale of publicly-owned empty homes or abandoned land in England and Wales".

"The power dates from the 1980 Local Government Planning & land Act. It enables anybody to request that the Secretary of State investigate why publicly-owned properties or land have been left empty.

Local Government Planning & land Act 1980
 http://www.legislation.gov.uk/RevisedStatutes/Acts/ukpga/1980/cukpga_19800065_en_1

PRODs - Public Request To Order Disposal
 http://emptyhomes.com/usefulinformation/policy_docs/prods.html

I guess i include this lot for information on what is still a live issue. Also, being dissatisfied with the outcome of matters there> I wanna know if others think if this is a goer, to bring about more change and to pressure local authority into more action on housing issues.

Whatdoyathink?

>>

I have always though that the figures contained in these articles, provide the moral case for squatting:

BBC NEWS Hoarders blamed for home deficit 26 July 2005
 http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/nottinghamshire/4599359.stm

BBC NEWS Councils could seize empty homes 21 October 2005
 http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/4364184.stm

BBC NEWS New powers to seize empty homes 21 October 2005
 http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/3732005.stm

____________________________________________
ALAN LODGE
Photographer - Media: One Eye on the Road. Nottingham. UK
Email:  tash@indymedia.org
Member of the National Union of Journalists [No: 014345]
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"It is not enough to curse the darkness.
It is also necessary to light a lamp!!"
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