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The Mayfair house valued at £6million |
ART SQUATTERS TO FACE COURT
Summons served on DA!Collective members living in £6m mansion
SQUATTERS living in a £6million Mayfair mansion will have to convince a court to let them stay or finally face eviction.
The artist group inside 18 Upper Grosvenor Street have been sent a summons to appear at Central London County Court on Tuesday.
The hearing brings an end to weeks of speculation over whether the property’s owner, Deltaland Resources, would take action against the group of artists and students known as Da!Collective.
Six members of the group – which now number 12 – moved into the property under the veil of darkness on October 10 and have become minor celebrities in the salubrious street better known for hedge funds, embassies and swanky restaurants.
The legal letter was sent on Monday.
Central London County Court is not quite the steps of the Lincoln memorial, but Tuesday morning could witness a piece of oratorial history.
One of the squatters told the West End Extra he wanted “the world to hear” them tell the judge and owners that leaving buildings empty is a crime.
Simon McAndrew said: “I can’t speak for the group but I have prepared something. There is something important at stake here that is bigger than a story about a squat. It’s a fundamental principle. A building is a resource and it just shouldn’t be left empty like this. The decision is irrelevant and we are ?prepared for the bailiffs. What is more important is the point.”
The artists have used the 30-room house as a project space – with installations and working exhibits. They have employed an “open door” policy, inviting artists and curious passers-by to join them since they moved in on October 10.
It is not known whether they plan to throw a party to mark the end of their stay, but a special film evening is being held on Saturday.
Squatting is not a criminal offence under English law and if squatters manage to evade eviction for 12 years they can become the legal owners.
Deltaland Resources have made no comment on the case. |
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