Stroud community squatters to be evicted after court order

Gloucestershire County Council said the community group S.I.S.T.E.R have been occupying the Old County Library illegally

Members of a group occupying a building without permission are to be evicted following a court order.

Gloucestershire County Council said the group are occupying the Old County Library in Stroud illegally.

Called S.I.S.T.E.R - Stroud Internationalist Solidarity Together for Earth Repairs - it has challenged the council's use of the building.

The council says it now plans to offer the former church to community groups in a transparent bidding process.

"We don't think the county council have been using the building for what they are allowed to use it for," said Devon from S.I.S.T.E.R, who asked not to disclose his full name.

"It sets it out very clearly in the conveyance of the lease that they have to use the building as a library and they have to make space for the local community to come in here and access education materials," he said.

The community group was set up in the summer

The community group, which was established in the summer, says it uses the building to host events, run educational workshops, film screenings and social gatherings.

It is run by a group of local young people, teachers and parents.

A petition has gained the support of at least 160 people who support the squatters.

Notable signatories include the co-founder of Extinction Rebellion, Gail Bradbrook, the managing director of Stroud Brewery, Gregg Pilley and Green councillor Chloe Turner.

Gloucestershire County Council made an application to the court to obtain possession of the property.

Following the judgement by Gloucester County and Family Court, a spokesperson said: "We can now secure vacant possession of the building and will offer it to community organisations to use via a transparent bid application and assessment process, up until our lease runs out in 2027."

The group hosts workshops, movie nights and educational workshops

Nora Dowdsewell from S.I.S.T.E.R said they had wanted to continue to use the centre as a site for "radical education" and to strengthen community connections.

"Hopefully the scale can grow, the amount of people that we reach can grow and the complexity of the work will develop," she said.

Devon says the group had tried to ask the council for permission to use the building, but had been unable to move forward.

He said: "We're telling a story here and the county council can either choose to be part of that story or they can choose to hide behind their walls of bureaucracy and paperwork that are just not accessible to the local community."