On*Tuesday 12 July 2011 the police plan to block off Coldharbour Lane
and enforce the eviction of all the people living in Clifton*Mansions. *Making the astonishing claim that evicting Clifton*Mansions will somehow solve the problem of drug crime in Brixton,
I cannot confirm if the Police have been saying that this is about drugs, whether the Council are getting Camelot in or if the Council are going for quick sale.
7.2
Lambeth Living, who is responsible for 136 of these 143 [squated properties], started their anti-squatting initiative in September 2010. This has resulted in 47 properties being repossessed and the number of squatted properties reducing from 93 to 66. Repossession of squatted properties was postponed after January 2011 in order to reduce incidences of re-squatting. Given the large number of long term vacant properties in the borough there were plenty of opportunities for evicted squatters to move into another void. The successful reduction in long term voids, currently only 92, makes re-squatting less likely so the last phase of the anti-squatting initiative is due to start in July. In preparation for this the Tenancy Enforcement Teams have already obtained Possession Orders on 60% of the 66 properties and most of the remainder have court hearing dates. The aim is to reduce the number of squatted properties to around 20 in this financial year and LL is well on target to achieve it.
Given the large number of long term vacant properties in the borough there were plenty of opportunities for evicted squatters to move into another void
Got this from Defend Council Housing:
Please support this campaign and protest against the eviction of the squat at Clifton Mansions which has been going since the 1990's.
more info from
Resist the evictions at Clifton Mansions July 12 8am
Clifton Mansions On Coldharbour Lane is a community of squatters in the heart of Brixton. Squatted since the 1990's the 22 flats are home to a large and diverse group of people. The residents have repaired and maintained the properties after Lambeth Council left them empty and neglected. Clustered around a central courtyard Clifton Mansions is a safe and vibrant community where violence and abuse are not tolerated.
On Tuesday 12 July 2011 the police plan to block off Coldharbour Lane and enforce the eviction of all the people living in Clifton Mansions. Making the astonishing claim that evicting Clifton Mansions will somehow solve the problem of drug crime in Brixton, the police failed to consult with local councillors before pushing ahead with this plan. Clifton Mansions residents have received only two weeks notice that they are to be evicted from their homes.
Following the evictions, Lambeth Council will pay Camelot, a private company, to provide “live-in guardians” to occupy Clifton Mansions. The squatters have been providing a free guardian service for years. Why make people homeless and then pay a multinational company to occupy their homes?
Eventually Lambeth wants to sell Clifton Mansions to property developers, further reducing Lambeth's social housing stock in central Brixton. Clifton Mansions will be turned into luxury flats priced well beyond the means of the local community.
Please contact the council and the police to let them know what you think.
Show your support on eviction day:
12 July – 8am – Clifton Mansions – 429 Coldharbour Lane
They're closing the street so lets have a party
So is there any evidence that the evictions are happening this week, or is it just rumours?
Why would the council/police tell people about the date in advance? Surely it's in their interests to turn up out of the blue.
WHOSE FUCKING IDEA IS THIS??? I've been living in one of the 22 flats for the last 10 years, with my young son... There r few more children and all sort of people living here at the moment..No way we r gonna let some stupid teen agers high on E trash the place we call 'home'... night before the eviction or not... BE AWARE
Not everyone seems happy about the party that has been planned:
There were numerous meetings with the police and council, mainly about Reynolds' violence. The crack trade was certainly mentioned. We had the opportunity to have Reynolds ASBOed but the squatters were too scared to put their names against any statement even though their names, according to my understanding, would not have been uttered in open court but only, in private, in judge's chambers.