A court has ruled in favour of eviction of squatters from a building in Tradeston, which was once former overnight accommodation for asylum seekers. The building has been occupied since COP26, when it was used as free accommodation for climate activists.

Photo from the early days of the occupation | Sam Doak

By Jack Howse

The Hamish Allan Centre in Tradeston was reclaimed from disrepair by squatters in the run up to COP26. Its occupants sought to show that the recovery of abandoned urban spaces is a way to fight climate change, build community, and rebuild economies lost to (de)industrialisation. Today [24 November], a court ruled against the occupiers, ordering their immediate eviction.

Read more: Activists Occupy Tradeston Site to Provide Accommodation for COP26

A press release issued by the occupants states:

“Glasgow City Council have requested that the standard 21 day notice period required under the Summary Cause Rules 2002 be ignored and overpassed by the court, asking to be able to carry the eviction out as early as tonight! [24 November]”

Speaking prior to the eviction notice, Betty, a spokesperson for the collective said:

"We recognise that Glasgow City Council are in a position where they are chronically and unacceptably underfunded. Time and time again public services are shut down and public assets sold off in an attempt to balance the books.

"However, this only deepens the problem. We cannot continue reliving this story whilst poverty continues to grow. This community asset has been empty for over 3 years. If not brought back into use, it risks being sold to private developers who continue to profit off the systematic destruction of community spaces in Glasgow.

A number of politicians have spoken out against the court hearing. In a joint statement Green MSPs, Maggie Chapman and Ross Greer, wrote:

“We recognise the work these activists have done in supporting people attending the recent COP26, and their commitment and desire to see buildings such as the Hamish Allan Centre brought back into community use, as accommodation or for other public benefit purposes”.

Scottish Labour North East MSP Mercedes Villalba and the Green Glasgow MSP Patrick Harvie have also publicly voiced their solidarity with the occupants of Baile Hoose.

This afternoon, the presiding sheriff ruled agains the occupants, and granted Glasgow City Council the right to retake possession of the building, and immediately evict its occupants. The occupiers have stated they will be seeking legal support to fight this ruling.

Ryan McNaughton, a spokeperson for the group said: “We will continue to fight for the rights of squatters, activists and protesters, who all too often are ignored and refused to be heard in the legal process”.

Regular updates on the situation can be found on the Baile Hoose Twitter page.