The campaigners evicted from a squat next to York Barbican Centre vowed today: ‘This is not the end!’
A protest was held in front of the site off Kent Street, owned by Persimmon Homes and left undeveloped for 15 years, a day after the squatters were physically removed by bailiffs.
Several security guards patrolled the site behind fencing as the demonstration took place in front of them.
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Dozens of local people came along to show their support. Those behind the protest and the squat says they want an immediate Compulsory Purchase Order to reclaim the land and return it to the people of York.
They are also calling for the cancellation of planning permission for all new hotels and luxury apartments and a massive program of building carbon-negative social housing.
They want land banking be made illegal too, so that land is used for the benefit of the people and not hoarded for private profits.
One of the speakers who wasn’t part of the protest group, was Deputy City of York Council Leader Andy D’Agorne, speaking in his capacity as a Fishergate ward councillor.
He told YorkMix: “It’s highlighted the absolute disgrace – the fact that this site has been left empty for so long.
“We’re discussing nationally the whole situation about whether planning rules needs to be changed to speed up development. We’ve got a site if it’s been empty for 17 years, two different lots of planning consent – the hold up is the developers, it’s nothing to do with planning process.”
Compulsory purchase
Could the council compulsorily purchase the site and bring it back into community use?
“That’s an option which we could look at. Obviously, we would much prefer Persimmon to come forward with plans and discuss it with local residents.”
He also said that fellow Green councillor Denise Craghill has emailed the police “to find out what happened and whether there was correct procedure in place when the protesters were evicted.”
“Because my understanding is that they should have had a court order and I don’t think that happened.”
One of those attending the demonstration told us why she was there. “I live locally, this land has sat empty for 17 years. Persimmon Homes have just been profiteering off of it.
“And the moment that the community comes together to try and do something positive, they responded with violence and an illegal eviction of when they weren’t just enriching this place for the community.
“So I think we need to stand up for our rights as a community and not allow York to just sell off all the land for homes that local people will not be able to afford and just line the pockets of big businesses.”
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