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| Subject: 'Occupy London' squatters reopen Friern Barnet library Sat Sep 15, 2012 7:27 am | |
| Squatters who set up a book-lending service in a library that was closed due to council budget cuts have vowed to fight moves to evict them.
A week ago a small group began living in Friern Barnet library, north London, and operating a community-run service.
Occupy London, which is is staying on site, said it received an eviction notice on Thursday morning.
Barnet Council, which closed the library in April, said it was important that public assets were protected. 'Squatter's rights'
A council statement said: "The council is genuinely enthusiastic about any group proposing ideas to run a community library in Friary House.
"However, it is important that public assets are protected and we have now started the legal process to have the squatters removed."
Squatters reopen Friern Barnet library
Squatters took up residence in the building in Friern Barnet Road and joined the campaign to reopen the library for the local community.
Pete Phoenix, of Occupy London, said the building's occupation was a direct result of changes to the law which allowed police to raid residential properties on suspicion they were being occupied by squatters and remove them.
Squatters occupying non-residential buildings can still claim "squatters' rights".
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-19590224 |
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