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Squatters with a cause
 | | Arthur Shuter |
CAMPAIGNERS have staged a midnight takeover of a popular greasy spoon to save it from demolition.
The self-styled 'squatters with a cause' invaded the former Francesca's cafe in Broadway Market hours before workmen were due to gut it on Monday morning.
Calling themselves the 'Save Broadway Market Campaign', the highly organised group say the move is part of their quest to save the area from developers.
The Gazette gained access to the building and found members were stocked up with food and water, keeping warm with electric heaters and even had a TV set up inside.
Group spokesman Arthur Shuter claimed up to 50 people were working in shifts to protect the building and would stay there for six months under 'squatters' rights'.
He blames a string of Broadway Market business closures on the cheap sell-off of public properties by a cash-strapped Hackney Council in 2000 and 2001.
"We want to stop the rot and prevent developers from taking businesses and homes from the people of Hackney," Mr Shuter told the Gazette.
FOR THE FULL STORY SEE THIS WEEK'S GAZETTE AVAILABLE FROM THURSDAY DECEMBER 1.
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