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HackneyNot4Sale , Nelson Bakewell Auction Action, London.
Early part of the day
On arriving at 1pm we found out that most of the Hackney sales were delayed, especially for our benefit I think, until 5pm
The samba band began to play outside the main entrance the 'spoof estate agent' display was set up and got lots of attention from passers by it is proving to be a really useful tool as it is really mobile and as it is really visual so many people stop to check it out and then want to chat to people about what is happening in Hackney we also talked to lots of bidders and asked them not to bid on community properties - (well you can alway hope)
We ran out of leaflets really early on - we had copied about 250 for bidders and 500 for passers by and thought that would be loads. Luckily people volunteered to go and pay for more and someone from the BBC, on realising we had run out, went into work to copy some more too (the BBC was directly opposite). It seemed as though almost everyone was in support of what we were trying to do there - it was really encouraging.
At about 3pm the heavens opened and we ran for cover and a re-group over pints and cups of tea to discuss what to do at 5pm
Security
There was massive security in terms of vanloads of police all over the place - I counted at least 7 plus lots of police around the hotel hotel staff were on all doors and windows around the hotel however it was mainly dressing and designed to put people off even trying to get in - the auctions are, after all, public it turned out that people did not need ID to get in the auction and almost all people who wanted to go in got in with just very cursory searches of bags inside the auction there were huge beefy security everywhere watching every little move it looked completely ridiculous like some hollywoood movie - but they could not stop people talking and shouting - at least not very quickly!
So at 5pm - the Hackney sales!
A few couples went to go in and two people were stopped - it was very obvious that they were protesters and hotel staff said that they had suddenly decided on a dress code of shirts and ties - the two people stopped were women! So while the two argued about being let in - another two from the group walked through the confusion with no problem in total six people from Hackney disrupted the sale of Atherden Road Nursery (the most contraversial of the sales). The first person, disrupted by standing up and telling people why it should not be sold and about parents having occupied it etc, she was eventually removed by security but was immediately followed by an elderly lady who did the same and on it went.
Fake bidders
Two people who knew each other started bidding fake bids on Atherden Road after all the 'ranters' had been removed - they pushed the bids up to £900, 000 - far higher than the expected price, before they were sussed out and asked to leave this is interesting as it was thought that the bids would have to be started all over again but it wasn't and the top bid was accepted - personally I am in two minds about the effectiveness of this - it maybe a useful tactic if you ONLY bid against another fake bidder, otherwise, yes, you are causing property developers to get rid of more cash - but that also means, probably, that Nelson Bakewell get more profit from it as I presume they charge a percentge of each sale. I am also unsure but niggled as to what other knock on effects it might have - so I am interested in thoughts on this as a tactic to be used at auctions in future
All in all the whole thing inside sounded great, the six disrupters didn't know each other before yesterday and had gone there individually to take action and only two of them were people from our group meanwhile outside the samba band made lots of noise outside the windows of the auction room.
All day there was lots of energy about and it all and it ended with a big session of dancing and samba playing - much to the amusement/besmusement of hotel staff and guests and bidders who were still drifting out and being questioned about what they had bid on.
The final smiles came when one person arrived with a crate full of tomatoes most of us thought 'hurrah food' and started eating them but while we were eating and dancing obliviously someone noticed that the police thought that the tomatoes were going to be thrown at them or the hotel staff and immediately moved into formation alongside the dancers and drummers.
The Hotel
On leaving one person went to chat to management of the hotel about whether or not it would seem like a good idea financially for them to host another Nelson Bakewell auction and what effect they thought it had had on their very upmarket guests? They were also asked about all the extra security and while they agreed that the security was all paid for by Nelson Bakewell and that must have cost one hell of a lot (plus presumably having to have the room for twice as long as planned) the Hotel obviously had extra staff on and other staff being unable to do anything else other than stand by doors and windows all day.
Property news:
- We were told that the Hackney properties sold really well i.e. fast and for very high prices. This comes as no surprise and backs up our views that the plans for the gentrification of Hackney is going to push house prices up forcing more and more people on low wages and welfare to have to move out of Hackney.
- There were reporters and photographers there from 'Property Week' - they came along because they just happened to be in Nelson Bakewell when we occupied the offices last week and are now going to be doing a piece in their mag - I reckon that this is really useful as this is one of thetop two property mags and will get a message out to developers that there are people who are going to challenge the selling off and privatising of community properties. It will be interesting to read what they have to say about the actions.
- The Old Firestation was withdrawn. An offer from the Ethical Property Company is being discussed with present tenants and the council. This offer, while not being perfect (as it still involves the council getting out of providing community groups with buildings in which to be housed) it is still much better than private, profit making developers buying it.
If you know of any community groups that might want to be housed in the Firestation if this proposal goes through please let us know. The rents will be much cheaper than commercial ones.
- Turkish and Cypriot welfare association, 14a Graham Road - withdrawn from the sale - unsure yet why this was.
- Shops on Oldhill Street - withdrawn minutes prior to the sale - tenants from one of the shops were there. In the past they had tried to buy the building but were refused. They went long yesterday because they wanted to know who their new landlords would be. Apparently the council are unable, legally, to sell it. Unsure of more details.
Media
- The BBC (I think it was them) showed some footage from Friday's Nelson Bakewell occupation including an interview about what is going on in Hackney and why we were there, on their early morning South East news yesterday (monday).
- London Live radio also did an interview outside the auction but no idea if it was used!
- There was apparently a media camera inside the auction too so they probably filmed all the disruptions - but we don't know which channel they were.
- Indymedia were there. They have a Hackney section to their site: http://uk.indymedia.org/.
What next?
We have lots of ideas for keeping the pressure on and resisting cuts and sell-offs in Hackney and hopfully they will include more actions very soon.
The next Nelson Bakewell auction will not take place until December, it is very likely that it will include more Hackney community buildings. There will be planning meetings closer to the time if people are interested in getting involved in these or more general meetings then just get in touch:
So, why not contact the auctioneers themselves! nwheeler@nelson-bakewell.com
Many thanks
If all Hackney residents, community groups, and workers who are under threat
got together; we wouldn't be under threat!
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