Barricades In Bristol

On 2nd June Bishopston Community Centre in Bristol was occupied to keep it in the hands of the community. The Parochial Church Council, who own the building, claim they need the building for a new church and so evicted the Bishopston Community Association. The Community Association had offered to buy the building with £1/2 million lottery funding, but the church refused.

Local people believe the church actually intend to sell the building. For 12 years the centre has been run without financial input from the council or the church, providing an impressive selection of activities and events. The current squatters have continued this work, favouring a more inclusive definition of community than that adopted by the church, and acting in defence of community space. A possession order has now been granted, so bailiffs are expected any time. However the building has been well barricaded, and the eviction will be resisted.

Contact 0117 9444401.

David Bailey is the ethically challenged canon of the church responsible. To hear his views on being a good Christian, phone 0117 9248683.