Campaign news

Stop Sweets Way Evictions

31st March 2015

Stop Sweets Way Evictions

On Monday October 30th a county court gave the green light to bailiffs to go in to Sweets Way estate in the London Borough of Barnet. The bailiffs intend to evict protesters so that the homes can be bulldozed and luxury apartments built in their place.

The court order was acquired by Annington Homes who bought the land. They in turn are owned by Terra Firma Capital Partners. Terra Firma is owned by a company located in the Cayman Islands owned by Guy Hands. Tax dodger Hands voluntarily moved to live in the tax haven of Guernsey, which he describes as a “burdensome option”. It must be so much worse than being made homeless so the likes of Hands can become even richer.

The ‘Guardian’ has reported on the plight of the residents of Sweets Way:

“A 10-year-old boy, who was rehoused last month several miles away in Enfield, told us his family had to move again next month, but had nowhere to go. At the moment he has to get up at 5am to start school on time and has had to abandon three after-school clubs.

‘My Sats are coming up and I am really stressed,’ the boy said. ‘I am worried all the time about whether I am going to be late for school.’

Edina, a 13-year-old who was evicted, spends three hours travelling to and from school. ‘I can’t concentrate in class,’ she said. ‘All I can think about is what is going to happen next and are we going to be moved even further away’.”

Hands is listed in Annington’s accounts as the company’s ‘ultimate controlling party’. That means he could stop this cruelty with a snap of his fingers. A spokesman for Terra Firma states, “neither Terra Firma or Guy Hands personally has any involvement in the day-to-day running of Annington Homes.” This is the week when we remember Pontius Pilate washing his hands.

Terra Firma said this investment was worth £3.2bn. That this is people’s homes, not hidey holes for oligarchs and investments for the ‘buy to leave’ billionaires, is neither here nor there to them. This is yet another example of the ‘social cleansing’ going on all over London. Tory Barnet is particularly guilty. If these people get away with it housing will become unaffordable for working class people in London.

Back the Sweets Way occupation. If you can, go along to show them your support. In any case spread the word.

Some information was provided by the Barnet Housing Action Group.