Indymedia York

Breaking News: The Council Have Now Threatened Eviction - Events still happening as planned.

A rich man's heart is a ghetto. An anarchists heart is a kingdom.The Bonding Warehouse in York city centre was yet again squatted on Saturday December 9th as an Autonomous Arts Space with the space being used for events and the creation and display of artwork. A full calendar of events are planned up until December 16th when a final party is planned.

An email sent out by the group explains: "The Bonding Warehouse has been a derelict building for years and to celebrate Christmas this year it has been turned into a social centre for the benefit of the local community. Why should a building like this be owned by just one person (who lets it rot) when it could be used for the benefit of the public?"

The Warehouse with the Ouse in FloodThe social centre is proving to be very popular, with up to 25 people visiting at any one time and events being well attended. Organised by students and locals alike, this has clearly been a great experience for many with over 50 people already passing through the doors.

Up until Wednesday 13th there was no sign of the owners (York Council) or the cops. However the council have expressed an interest in closing the centre down and a meeting was called to discuss the response. A local community support officer also called round to have a nosy, but was aware of the squatters rights and simply tried to take names.

A rough timeline of events follows:

Monday - News emerges that a Centre has been opened.
Tuesday - Things going well for Centre.
Wednesday day time - Council and Police visit within hours of each other.
Wednesday night - Read a reflection by an overnight visitor.
Thursday night - A classical concert was held, receiving rave reviews from all attendees.

The bonding warehouse had been used as a nightclub venue until November 2000 when it was flooded. The lessees abandoned it and the owners, the City of York Council failed to force them to clean it up get out. In August 2004 the Bonding Warehouse was occupied by members of the York Peace Collective. The new owners plan to turn it into boutique shops.