Star date: 26th April 2015

ALBERT SQUARE HOMELESS CAMP TO STAY UNTIL EVICTION

Following Friday's County Court hearing, which granted Manchester City Council a possession order on a technicality, residents of the Manchester Homeless Camp say that they will stay until the bitter end to raise awareness of homelessness... "We're trying our best to achieve what we want to do in the short time we've got left to do it" says Scott, from Salford. 

Bailiffs are expected at the Camp on Monday or Tuesday, although solicitors are trying to launch an appeal against the order.

Full details here...

Last Friday - after the hearing was brought forward from next Tuesday - Manchester City Council was successful in gaining a possession order on the Albert Square Homeless Camp. It was won on the technicality that Scott, one of the Camp's residents who was challenging the order on human rights issues (see previous Salford Star article – click here), hadn't attended an earlier hearing.

Solicitor Ben Taylor, of WTB Solicitors who represented Scott at Friday's hearing, explains "My client is deeply disappointed with the outcome. The court dismissed the application on the basis that my client had failed to give a good reason for not attending court on Monday. His substantive defence was not considered by the court because he failed to satisfy this preliminary requirement.

"My client has instructed me to advise him on the merits of appeal" he adds "My client is street homeless and is occupying Albert Square not only as an act of protest but also because he feels safe living with other homeless persons there, rather than sleeping alone in a shop doorway."

Dr Rhetta Moran, of human rights organisation RAPAR, adds: "In this case, we are seeing whether and how 'justice' itself is or is not being done and being seen to be done. When courts make technical manoeuvres to avoid dealing with the real issues – in this case the extent of homelessness in this city and the danger that surrounds homeless people when they sleep alone in doorways - it is high time to hold the ground. RAPAR re-states its commitment to support them in whatever way we can."

Now Manchester Council bailiffs are expected on Monday or Tuesday to evict the Camp, which was set up to protest against the lack of action on homelessness in the city. Scott, originally from Salford, believes that the order was rushed though because of the General Election connotations and the BT Manchester Great City Games are due to take place at Albert Square on May 9th.

"Because I didn't attend the first hearing, they've used that as a technicality and then tried to bribe me in court by offering me accommodation" he says "As Coffee4Craig said at the time, there were zero places available that day but as soon as I got to court there was a place for me. I refused it point blank. I said `I'll take it as long as it's offered to everyone who is here', to which I never got a comment back. After the hearing they offered it to me again but there was no offer for any of my other campers.

"We're going to stay until the end, we'll be peaceful and are going to make an appeal to a circuit judge when legal aid is granted; it's just a pity it's taken so long" he added "The police have been brilliant with us, the public have been brilliant with us, support has gone through the roof really. We're trying our best to achieve what we want to do in the short time we've got left to do it."

The Facebook page, Homeless Rights For Justice, set up to support the Camp, now has over 1,300 `likes' – for further updates click here

UPDATE 28th April 2015

The Camp has now moved to St Peter's Square and Manchester City council has  served notices to quit by 9am tomorrow (Tues). If the City Council embark on new possession proceedings, Ben Taylor will attempt to defend as he did last time - but which was not allowed by the judge due to a technicality.