11 February 2010
The former Jesters Comedy Club at 142 Cheltenham Road, Stokes Croft, whose lease has been taken over by Tesco, has been squatted. It is believed that the squatting action took place on Tuesday night. Astonished at the lack of proper consultation and Tesco’s underhand tactics, local residents moved into occupation of the premises determined not to allow the development to go ahead. This pre-empts work beginning on the 32nd Tesco store in Bristol alone.
There are 2306 Tesco related premises in the UK at present and with Tesco accounting for about £1 in every £8 spent in the UK retail sector we seriously believe they are breaking EU Monopoly Laws.
We have been informed that security personnel, presumably working on behalf of Tesco PLC, arrived sometime on Wednesday armed with sledgehammers, intent on regaining the property. The Police were called and they ordered the Security gang to desist from their intended action, thus heading off the possibility of needless violence. The squatters remain in situ.
Monday night’s meeting, hosted at Hamilton House, attracted over 200 local people. In view of the lack of Community Consultation, it was decided that the Community would organise their own.
In order to co-ordinate the Community’s response to Tesco’s proposed incursion into Stokes Croft, a dedicated website has been set up.
www.notescoinstokescroft.org.uk
A message from the occupiers:
“We will resist eviction, and are calling out for like minded people across bristol.
There is no need for another plastic store local shops are adequate enough. Let’s mobilise, even if we manage to win this one we know they’ll want more!”
Find out how you can join in. Posters for your window, or the window of your business,surveys and postcards to send to BCC can be obtained from PRSC HQ between 11 and 6pm.