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A group of feminist activists who have taken over a closed-down Bristol Library as a refuge for the survivors of domestic violence are facing eviction today (THUR), despite a judge saying she was ‘certainly sympathetic’ with their cause.

The Sisters Uncut group have been occupying the Cheltenham Road Library in Montpelier for almost two weeks, in protest at council cuts and the lack of emergency or temporary accommodation for women fleeing violence in their own homes.

In the 12 days since the group took over the huge building opposite Colston’s Girls’ School, they have set up workshops, seminars and effectively created a refuge for survivors of domestic violence.

But the library, which was sold by the council to a developer and closed down at the end of February, is now owned by MD Homes, who have planning permission to knock it down and construct 36 apartments on the site.

MD Homes went to the Civil Court in Bristol on Thursday morning to gain a possession order to take back the building and evict the group.

MD Homes’ barrister Ross Fentem said there was no question mark over the ownership of the building, and the women occupying the building were trespassing.

(Image: David Betts)

He said his client wanted to begin demolition work this weekend, so wanted to regain possession immediately.

Deputy District Judge Deborah Incledon agreed, and issued the possession order, after hearing a number of arguments by Alex Crimp, who was speaking on behalf of the Sisters Uncut organisation.

Ms Crimp claimed the paperwork on ownership was not in order, but DDJ Incledon said any issues did not affect MD Homes’ lawful possession of the building.

Ms Crimp also said they had applied to register the building as an ‘asset of community value’, and also applied to get the building listed as a historic and important building.

She added under human rights legislation, the library was now the primary home of some of the group, who would face homelessness otherwise, so an order would breach those rights.

The judge dismissed those arguments. “I can’t see anything that would prevent me from issuing this order. None of those issues impact on the ownership of this building.

“What I have to look at is who is the legal owner of this property. I don’t know what the claimant intends to do with the property, and it is of no concern to me. It doesn’t prevent me making a decision on who has got the legal right to occupy the building.

“I’ve seen the information you have provided about what you have been doing in the building. I’m certainly sympathetic to what you are doing, it seems to be good and valuable work that you are doing,” said the judge.

Earlier this year, a long-running campaign by Sisters Uncut and other groups to persuade council chiefs to increase the priority given to survivors of domestic violence on the housing needs lists appeared to have succeeded.

But the group said the change made by council cabinet chiefs did not go far enough – and would only benefit a small proportion of women in need.

Miss Crimp told the court that many of the women at the library would now be homeless. “We can’t go back to where we were before. It’s going to be very difficult,” she said.

“It also surprises and shocks me that the Human Rights Act does not apply. That seems absolutely insane to me – what about people’s rights?

“But this building is no longer owned by Bristol City Council,” said Deputy District Judge Incleman. “It is a private building now, and this is a matter between two private individuals, so the human rights legislation does not apply. I appreciate there’s some very emotive issues involved.”

Back at the library, women involved in the occupation took to the roof on Thursday afternoon to unfurl banners protesting at council cuts.

The protestors said they were expecting the bailiffs to try to evict them either on Thursday afternoon or Friday morning.