Glastonbury Morlands site squat: press release

[Richard Chisnall]

>From another Yahoo group:

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*PRESS RELEASE*
05/01/12


STATEMENT FROM THE OCCUPIERS OF THE "RED BRICK BUILDING" ON

THE MORLANDS SITE


THIS BUILDING IS UNDER LEGAL AND PEACEFUL OCCUPATION BY CONCERNED
CITIZENS REPRESENTING THE LOCAL COMMUNITIES OF STREET AND GLASTONBURY

NO FORCED ENTRY, CRIMINAL DAMAGE OR THEFT HAS TAKEN PLACE

ON CHRISTMAS EVE THE R.D.A. ANNOUNCED THAT THIS BUILDING WOULD BE
DEMOLISHED ON JANUARY 5th - SO THAT NO CONSULTATION OR NEGOTIATION WITH
LOCAL PEOPLE HAS BEEN POSSIBLE.

AS THE R.D.A. ARE AWARE, LOCAL BUSINESS PEOPLE ARE READY AND WILLING TO
TAKE OVER THIS BUILDING, UNDERTAKING THE NECESSARY REPAIRS AND PAYING A
REASONABLE RENT. THIS WOULD BEGIN THE MUCH-NEEDED REGENERATION OF THE
SITE

IN SEVEN YEARS THE R.D.A. HAVE WASTED AN ENORMOUS AMOUNT OF PUBLIC MONEY
IN TURNING MORLANDS INTO A WASTELAND. THEY HAVE CONSISTENTLY IGNORED
INPUT AND PROPOSITIONS FROM THE LOCAL COMMUNITY FOR THE REGENERATION OF
THIS SITE.

THEIR ADMINISTRATION OF THIS PROJECT HAS BEEN AN EMBARRASMENT AND A
DISGRACE

ENOUGH IS ENOUGH!

WE DEMAND THAT THE R.D.A. ENTER INTO A MEANINGFUL DIALOGUE WITH LOCAL
PEOPLE AND LISTEN TO THE COMMUNITIES OF STREET AND GLASTONBURY.

WE DEMAND FULL CONSULTATION BEFORE EMBARKING ON YET MORE UNNECESSARY AND
IRREVOCABLE DEMOLITION WORK.

WE DEMAND THAT LOCAL PEOPLE, BUSINESSES, YOUTH AND COMMUNITY GROUPS PLAY
A SIGNIFICANT PART IN THE REGENERATION OF MORLANDS AS A PROJECT WE CAN
ALL BE PROUD OF.

WE ARE ABSOLUTELY WILLING TO LEAVE THE BUILDING IMMEDIATELY AND
VOLUNTARILY IF THE R.D.A. CAN GIVE US AN ASSURANCE THAT THEY WILL
SUSPEND THE DEMOLITION PROCESS UNTIL A PUBLIC MEETING CAN BE CALLED
WITHIN A SIX WEEK PERIOD


FOR FURTHER INFO PLEASE CONTACT HAZEL ON:
T: 01458 833871
M: 07532 373758

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