Star date: 14th September 2016

SUPPORTERS RALLY TO RESIST DUCIE BRIDGE PUB EVICTION OF HOMELESS

Supporters of the homeless squat at the Ducie Bridge pub on Miller Street in Manchester gathered outside the property today to resist any attempt to evict the dozen or so people barricaded inside.

A possession order gained in court on Monday by the Co-op/NOMA meant the squatters had to leave by noon today. But the deadline came and went with no sign of the bailiffs but plenty of support for the campaigners...

Full details and photos here...

Motorists and lorry drivers tooted their horns today in support of homeless people who have barricaded themselves into the Ducie Bridge pub on Miller Street in Manchester city centre.

NOMA GP, half owned by the Co-operative, won a possession order on its property at the Civil Justice Centre on Monday, which meant that homeless people had to vacate the pub by noon today. But around a dozen of them have refused to move and are asking for support to resist eviction.

As the deadline approached, supporters gathered at the front of the pub chalking `Let Them Stay' and `Co-op aka NOMA Killing Kids in Doorways' on the pavement, while the squatters appeared at windows and on the roof shouting defiance.

"Everyone in here is very positive about what we've got on, why we're doing it and what we are trying to achieve" said Chris Blaine, from Salford, speaking through an open window

"Our demands are that the [Manchester] Labour Council gets its head out of its backside and starts doing something productive about the homeless situation" he explained "Start to provide houses, start providing support to get these people into houses – there's about 15 young adults here who could really benefit from that service and  adults too who could benefit from that. We also want to see the Co-op commit to 6% affordable social housing on their new millionaire NOMA scheme; it's not like they can't afford it."

Chris also had a direct message for the Co-op/NOMA which he wanted the media to relay...

"You were so desperate to get us into court, to get us out of the building but where are you today?" he asked "Your time was up at 12 o' clock – such a big powerful respected organisation but you're hiding in your glass tower...Get out here, come and face the music; the writing is on the wall..."

The `writing on the wall' of the Ducie Bridge accuses the Co-op `aka NOMA' of making people homeless by shutting down the squat, and gives figures of two hundred rough sleepers in Manchester, `2,225 families hidden homeless, 2,801 not in priority need, 2,438 in temporary accommodation'... `In April 2017 housing benefit will be removed for over 300,000 under 25s', one of the placards adds... `#Letthemstay'...

David Foran, who used to lease the Ducie Bridge pub from the Co-op, before being jettisoned from the building when the lease ran out, came down to support the campaign...

"I don't believe that there should be anyone sleeping on the streets in Manchester when there's the amount of empty buildings that could house more than the homeless" he said "The Co-op aren't as ethical as they used to be. They used to be for the average person, the man on the street, but now it's the same as anything - they start off with the best intentions but then it all goes a bit tits up..."

As the campaign highlighting the `tits up' ethics of the Co-op grows, the homeless people are preparing for their first night post-possession order. They believe that the bailiffs will attempt eviction at 5am tomorrow and have asked for further support...

To sign the 38 Degrees #LetThemStay petition - click here

UPDATE: 16th September: The eviction hasn't happened yet and the homeless are still occupying the Ducie Bridge pub

For full background see previous related Salford Star articles...

Court Gives Co-op Squatters 48 hours to Leave - click here

Direct Action and Petition Against Co-op - click here

Co-op Hits Homeless With Court - click here

`Ethical' Co-op Hits Homeless With Eviction Threat - click here