Future looks brighter for Friern Barnet Library thanks to Squatters

In a groundbreaking legal ruling Judge Pearl of Friern Barnet County court,seeing the mass level of local support.( nearly 100 people tried to enter a court that could hold 40),made some significant rulings.

- first that the local authority would have to be bound to negotiate over a temporary licence for the next 6 to 18months, and that the possession order she granted could not be enacted until Feb 1st 2013.
This in squatting case terms was a major victory.

-Secondly and more significantly she upheld the occupiers European Court of Human Rights articles 10 and 11 rights to protest.
She granted the possession order only because there was a community right to bid as part of the localism act that had been submitted.
This she said may affect or bias the bid if the occupiers were left in the premises.
This ruling is now the subject of an appeal, around the rights to protest using Using ECHR articles 10 and 11.

For more information on this legal appeal and situation contact Leigh Day and Co. Solicitors and or Phoenix a defendant in the casevia friernbarnetcommunitylibrary@gmail.com

The photos are of the second licence support group meeting 10th Jan 2013 attended by over 40 local residents,squatters and Occupy London Activists.
As well as Bill Murphy representing the council.

Much was discussed about the details of a licence,and the councils position,bringing in Community Action Barnet as an 'Honest Broker 'to help the local residents and squatters to finalise the licence.

This sensible approach to community co-operation was welcomed by the squatters,who have been campaigning for a sensible dialogue on the use of the UK s 1.4 million empty buildings.

Empty Homes agency figures state that there are 930,000 empty residential buildings in the uk. Squatting in residential buildings is now punishable by up to a year in our over crowded prisons.

There are 500,000 empty commercial premises which are still legal to squat.

The squatters, throughout this four months of action have aimed to raise awareness of the undemocratic, unfair and arbitrary nature of the governments recent criminalisation of the homeless/squatters use of empty residential buildings.
Ref the Laspo act, 2012.

The library occupation has been covered by numerous paper radio and TV, locally nationally and Internationally.
Sparking further the National Libraries debate, as well as the questioning of the need for all the Public service Cuts.Which could be fully covered by a bankers tax and Corporate Tax evaders paying up (UK Uncut research)

The meeting was Covered by a bemused Japanese Journalist from the second largest paper in the world ,with a readership of 8.5 million people. What must the Japanese think of the British Culture that is closing 250 -600 libraries nationally. Denying our children and all ages this free facility.
Libraries as the occupiers state are 'Beacons of free education and knowledge and should be protected for all future generations.'
The occupation has raised the awareness of the Illegality of the government and local Authorities closing libraries they have a statutory obligation to keep open,ref 1964 Libraries Act and the recent Dept of Culture Ministry and Sport report claiming closures could be illegal.
Further info
www.fbpeopleslibrary.co.uk
www.phoenixrainbow23.blogspot.co.uk