Housing activists target Foxtons in protest at ‘rampant regeneration’
Glyn Harries of Reclaim Hackney speaking outside the Town Hall last week. Photograph: Ella Jessel
Housing activists occupied an estate agents yesterday afternoon as part of “celebratory” action marking Hackney Council’s withdrawal of its Public Space Protection Order (PSPO).
The Council was forced to scrap the PSPO, which imposed conditions and restrictions within a specific “hotspots” and aimed to target “anti-social behaviour”, following intense public pressure.
In celebration at the victory housing campaigners from Digs, members of newly-formed group Reclaim Hackney and local residents staged a “leaflet amnesty” outside the Town Hall.
They called on the police and Council officers to dispose of any remaining leaflets and other publicity about the controversial PSPO, “no questions asked”.
The group then marched down Mare Street and held a “short and peaceful occupation” inside up-market estate agents Foxtons.
Reclaim Hackney member Barry Watt told the Hackney Citizen: “The aim was to celebrate the repeal of the pernicious PSPO by Hackney Council, whilst continuing to highlight the devastating effects of rampant regeneration to our borough.
“The short occupation of Foxtons aimed to draw attention to their aggressive business practices – driving house prices up to ludicrous and unsustainable levels, ripping off renters and making Hackney and the rest of London unaffordable and unwelcoming to all but the wealthy.”
Reclaim Hackney said its members would continue to campaign against gentrification and focus on the role of property developers and local authorities in the “relentless trend towards disenfranchising working class people in Hackney.”
Hackney councillors responded to the demonstrators on social media, defending the Council’s record on affordable housing.
Councillor Philip Glanville, the council’s Cabinet Member for Housing, said:
Had a quick look at the #reclaimhackney feed. Understand the sentiment in relation to Foxtons, but the big banner is a load of nonsense.
— CllrPhilipGlanville (@PhilipGlanville) June 22, 2015
Cllr Jon Burke, who represents Woodberry Down ward, tweeted:
Remember when everyone came to our scrutiny on building more affordable housing? No, me neither. #ReclaimHackneyhttp://t.co/PD7aaYLuTV — Cllr Jon Burke (@jonburkeUK) June 22, 2015
Hackney police also responded to the protesters:
@Hackney_renters @hackneycouncil Point taken! We have already destroyed them in our own ‘amnesty’ bin though.
— Hackney MPS (@MPSHackney) June 22, 2015
Earlier this year a window was smashed at the Brixton branch of Foxtons as thousands attended a demonstration against rising house prices organised by Reclaim Brixton.
Reclaim Hackney said they are in contact with the south London group but are leading independently on their campaigns.
Foxtons Mare Street declined to comment.