Town Hall blamed for evicting artists’ community

The block occupied by squatters

SQUATTERS have moved into a block of flats which lay empty for more than a year after the eviction of an artists’ collective who had occupied the building and won over their neighbours.
Residents of the Holly Lodge Estate in Oakeshott Avenue, Highgate, say the second wave of squatters, unlike their predecessors, are proving to be a nuisance.
They are furious at the council for leaving the building empty after evicting the first band of squatters – an artists’ collective often described as friendly and helpful – in August 2003.
Housing chiefs now stand accused of blowing more than £20,000 on securing the building, only to see a new group move in.
Officials were warned on the day of the eviction in 2003 that if they left the building empty for too long it would be occupied again.
A Town Hall press official said that funding pressures meant security at the squatted block, which is due to be refurbished, had been reviewed.
He added: “Camden Council is committed to maximising the amount of decent accommodation we have for those in priority need.
“In doing so we will always take action against those who illegally occupy our property. We were dismayed to discover that squatters had gone to such lengths to evade security and gain entrance to the property.
“Clearly, these squatters have cost Camden Council a considerable amount of money. We have used the best means available to protect the property but have had to make decisions to balance the financial expense of using permanent security guard presence.”
The New Journal this week found growing hostility to the latest squatters. One resident, who did not wish to be named, said: “They cause a lot of grief, and they are not popular.
“There are people here who have been waiting for 10 years for a council home – people who really need social housing – and then these people come in and just take the homes.
“In the past, the squatters were part of an artists’ collective, and they were interested in building up relationships with their neighbours, and giving something back to the estate in return for staying there.”
Another resident who claimed to know some of the new squatters said: “Their parents have big, fat houses and they have had private educations, and are privileged. That is totally out of order.
“And the council are not blameless. They have spent loads of money on securing the block, but the security has not been good enough to keep them out. The answer is this – get the squatters out on the day the builders move in.”
One of the new group of squatters, who did not wish to be named, said: “It’s not an easy life you know. We are just in a bad way and trying to get on with our lives.”
Some residents, angry that homes have been left empty despite accommodation shortages, were sympathetic
June Stevens, who lives in Oakeshott Avenue, said: “Why should anyone be homeless. Let them have the flat for God’s sake.”
A council press official added: “We will be issuing proceedings in the county court for possession of the property and will review arrangements to secure the property until the developer takes possession to do major refurbishment works at the end of March or beginning of April.
“The squatting has not materially delayed the work being carried out.”