Fitzrovia neighbours clash in squatters’ free school row - Angry exchanges as group takes over Black Lion pub

Published: 25 February 2011
by JOSH LOEB

NEIGHBOURS are pitched against neighbours in a bitter row over a self-styled free school founded by squatters in Fitzrovia.

The activists, whose Really Free School hosts public film screenings, lectures and workshops, were evicted from director Guy Ritchie’s £6million house in Fitzroy Square on Friday and moved into the former Black Horse pub in Rathbone Place soon afterwards.

They have a “no media” policy and have declined to speak to the West End Extra, but residents have not been so reticent and are engaged in a bitter argument about the squat.

Linus Rees, chair of trustees of the Fitzrovia Neighbourhood Association (FNA), helped stop bailiffs from gaining access to the Black Horse during a standoff on Monday.

He has written articles defending the occupiers and calling them “inspiring young men and women”.

In a blog post on the Fitzrovia News website, he wrote: “What the Really Free School has done is take a house that was not being used and created a space where ordinary people could get together and learn from each other and draw attention to the state of education in Britain.”

His comments have not been welcomed by members of the Fitzrovia Residents’ Association (FRA) who say he is using the squatters “as pawns in a political game”.

Edward Turner, co-chair of the FRA, called Mr Rees’s remarks “shocking”. He said: “Squatters’ rights are there to stop unscrupulous landlords turfing people out onto the streets, not to allow people to go from property to property, causing distress and disruption to the rightful owner. As they [the FNA] are in receipt of public funds, you would have thought they would be standing up for the rights of everyone in the community without favour for any particular group.”

FRA member Aimery de Malet Roquefort said Mr Rees risked “opening the floodgates” to squatters. He said: “Many hard working and ordinary Fitzrovia residents now fear leaving their properties empty, even to go away at the weekend. Consequently this sets a very dangerous precedent. Linus’s recent action has completely called into question the whole ethos of what the FNA stands for.” 

On Tuesday Mr Rees was unapologetic, accusing his critics of “hysteria”.

He said: “I do not in any way condone people squatting private or public property that is being used or is being occupied, but that is not what is happening in this case. According to Camden’s statistics, Bloomsbury ward has the highest number of vacant properties in the whole of the borough. 

“I am more concerned about people losing their homes over the next few months as the housing benefit changes come into effect and as people lose their jobs in both the public and private sector, and Camden and Westminster will see a lot more homeless families in 12 months’ time. Our organisation is very concerned about that.”

The four-storey Black Horse was recently bought by London and Central Estates for £2million and was reportedly being refurbished when the squatters gained access. 

Events staged at the Real Free School have included carpentry lessons, foreign language classes and a lecture about “feminist porn”.

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