Squatters have moved out of an abandoned church hall after a week-long “mission” to help people facing eviction from their homes.
The squatters first made a name for themselves when they took over the Friern Barnet Library and the Bohemia Pub, but returned to support those living on the West Hendon Estate.
Those living on the estate are being forced out of their homes over the next six months to six years before they are torn down to make way for 2,000 new flats.
However, after moving into the building, they clashed with the Reverend Gwyn Clement, whose parish owns the building, and he gave them until Tuesday (yesterday) to leave.
He told them a Scout group holds its weekly meetings at 6pm in a hut underneath the abandoned building, and that as the squatters have not had any criminal reference checks, this would be cancelled.
The squatters agreed this would be inappropriate and agreed to be out before the children arrived, holding a ‘goodbye’ ceremony after gathering their possessions together.
In the past week, the squatters have been meeting the West Hendon leaseholders to provide emotional and practical support and campaign on their behalf.
They have spent the week surviving on donations of bread, butter and cups of tea but regularly went “skipping” in search of food discarded in rubbish bins.
Many were not able to have regular showers, as they said there are “more important” things on their agenda.
The Times Series has contacted the Scout Association and the Rev Clement for a comment.
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