Housebuilders' HQ Field Day
On 2nd February a group of EF!ers and friends occupied the offices of the House Builders Federation(HBF), which lobbies for building commuter houses on greenbelt land rather than the provision of social housing.
Armed only with their wits and sets of Oligopoly (a Monopoly type board game based on the exploits of the HBF) the group attempted to obtain previously undisclosed info such as a list of HBF members; an explanation for why 3 of the directors have given the HBF office address as their home address (in breach of the Companies Act 1985); and details of the amount of acreage of greenbelt in 'land banks' held by HBF members.
Various filing cabinets were investigated and a meeting in the company's board room was interrupted: a rather keen secretary tried to keep protestors out but succeeded in locking three of them in the room with the Chief Executive. While this was going on inside, musicians outside performed alternative versions of their favourite chart-topping tunes, including the Verve's 'The Plans Won't Work' - 'All this talk of building homes / It's bringing me down my love / Like a flat for a prat, in a new town, upon an English down.'
Although no arrests were made everyone was searched on their way out of the building. The action got significant media coverage, especially in the construction trade press.
Other excursions by this happy band of appalling lyricists are planned. Contact 01865 721366.
Meanwhile, in a field near Bradford, activists from Leeds EF! brought work on the greenfield housing development at Sandy Lane in Bradford to a six hour halt by climbing onto the only working digger. Security guards were notable by their absence, relations with workers were good and there were no arrests. One resident commented "Most people round here are in total support of this kind of action, it's our only option left".
Residents have been taking direct action against the construction of the 92 Bryant Homes since work started including squatting the access to the site, locking the access gates and diverting a stream back across the work site. Those involved are hoping to broaden their campaign to take in other greenbelt housing developments. Contact the Sandy Lane housing campaign on 01274 495264.