Bristol squatters: We won't let Tesco get Jesters Comedy Club without a fight
Squatters who have taken over a former comedy club in Stokes Croft in protest at plans to turn it into a Tesco say they will fight moves to evict them.
Last week at a hearing at Bristol County Court, a repossession order was granted to Tesco, leaving the squatters at the former Jesters Comedy Club in Cheltenham Road waiting for an eviction notice to be served.
They moved in at the start of February, putting up a sign that read: "Tesco – Every little hurts."
In a message sent from "The Tesco squat crew" to members of Facebook group set up for people interested in the issue, they explained the court proceedings and said: "There should be a notice period of 48 hours and this time will be used to defend the site."
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No one at the site yesterday would comment about the lengths they would go to in an attempt to keep bailiffs out.
But they appealed for supporters to join them when the authorities arrive to show the strength of local feeling.
One of the group inside the former comedy club, Paul Saville, 24, a student who lives in Fishponds, said: "We think it will be soon. When we get the letter through the door, it will be a matter of spreading the word. We would like as much support here as possible when the bailiffs arrive."
Another member of the group, 25-year-old Paul Harwood, who lives in Stokes Croft, said: "If 3,000 people surrounded the building, the bailiffs would struggle to get to the building. We want as many people as possible to be here, to have a presence."
The group have set up a "phone tree" to let people know when the bailiffs are due. A phone number that people can text for more information is in the window of the building, and chalked on the pavement outside.
Since the squatting group have occupied the building, they have been using it and offering it as a community space, for concerts, meals and other events.
Mr Saville said: "It has been great. We've had everything from poetry events to community bingo – we couldn't find any bingo balls so we used some old potatoes chopped in half. It's been good to get people in here in the evenings, and people come in to see what's going on when they walk past in the day, or just look in through the windows."
There has been a large amount of local opposition to the decision to change the use of the club to a supermarket, and residents have claimed that there was a lack of community consultation.
Last month dozens of people marched along Cheltenham Road to show their support for the squatters and their opposition to Tesco.
Comments
by Marc, Montpelier
Thursday, March 11 2010, 10:01PM
“Bring on the bailiffs let's improve the area for all not just the squatting freeloading hippies”
by pirate, stokes croft
Tuesday, March 09 2010, 7:28PM
“lets get some facts down, there are 6 local shops within a minutes walk of jesters (post office, 2x best, 1 on ashley road, 1 on jamaica street, polish shop) and if they dont have what you want for the price you want there are 3 tescos within 5 minutes walk. (gloucester road, by bus station, town) plus they deliver.
So people already have the choice and access to tesco.
another tesco will close at least one of the local shops so we will have less jobs and more empty buildings.
Plus Gloucester road is great, it has a butcher, baker, greengrocer, delicattessen and most of these are cheaper than supermarkets (and better quality) - if you dont believe do some price checking.
It doesnt matter if you're an upstanding citizen, family man, hippy, tramp, or pensioner. We all want stokes croft to improve.”
by charlie, bristol
Tuesday, March 09 2010, 4:42PM
“a question to all the people saying a tesco would be so welcome in stokes croft cos its not over-priced etc and currently people have to go to overpriced newsagents...
what about the one opposite the bus station.. you know, the one about 200m from where they want to build a new one?
personally, as theres one so close already, theres no need for another!”
by Ratsmasher - Smashing RatsmasherSMASHER, Bristol, Lower Kingsdown
Tuesday, March 09 2010, 12:41PM
“RatsmasherSMASHER, Bristol
Nice to see that you conform to the usual Tofu tossing, meusli munchin' swampyesque crowds "peacefull demonstration" standards !
I hope the tramps do smash it up and loot it ! Hopefully they will all get banged up and stop leaving needles, crack pipes bottles etc around the local area where all the children WANT to still be able to play.
It isn;t even Stokes Croft really , it is Cheltenham road so the Methalated lightning cider etc will still be sold by the gallon at tramp prices 24/7 so do not panic !!
Your weeks entertainment is not at risk.”
by The Hedgehog, Horfield
Tuesday, March 09 2010, 11:59AM
“Wrong topic, Evan!”
by Evan Dewsbury, Redland
Tuesday, March 09 2010, 11:56AM
“I disagree strongly with this doctor. Car share lanes are there to try and overcome the frankly ridiculous inefficiency of single-occupancy cars.
This doctor is part of the problem of congestion, he is part of the daily traffic jam.
If he wants to get to work more quickly, then he should stop being so selfish and allow someone else into his car so he can use the car share lane.”
by Jamie E, Stokes Croft
Tuesday, March 09 2010, 11:25AM
“Dear PC Hudd,
Here's a radical idea to fill the Police forces coffers, greatly improve community relations and help the economy without costing the tax payers anything!
Behold! The pay-per-view baton charge!
That's right! We sell punters a one-off event showing 30 of Bristols most angry coppers in full riot gear getting up close and personal with a load of beancurd smelling students with dreads who think they've got far more public support than they actually have.
Subsequent rounds include tear-gas, plastic bullets and dogs followed by a statistical breakdown showing the star coppers and their special finishing moves.”
by Bristol Dave, Bristol
Tuesday, March 09 2010, 10:55AM
“Which are these local shops that will be destroyed if Tescos opens? Fred Baker Cycles? All the yoghurt-knitters are all too quick to wail about "damage to local shops" but nobody can name any! Maybe this is because there aren't?
You DO NOT have the right to restrict other people's freedom of choice as to where they shop, so stop trying to force your anti-globalist extreme-leftwing agenda onto people that didn't ask for it.”
by The Hedegehog, Horfield
Tuesday, March 09 2010, 9:55AM
“Nice to see the peaceful hippies out and about so early!”
by RatsmasherSMASHER, Bristol
Tuesday, March 09 2010, 12:37AM
“When the Tesco's is opened (god forbid) hopefully this'll cause a riot where the Tesco is smashed up every night time and again with the local tramps looting it and feeding themselves..
Eventually Tesco will cut their losses on this and move on.... If they can;t stop the Tesco being built then I imagine it'll be smashed up..
People feel very strongly about maintaing Stokes Croft as an area to develop, not to be developed..
Why does every single area of Bristol have to be ruined with corporate blandness? Can we just not have one area left alone to develop naturally?
Tesco's ruins the local economy.”