Spike Surplus Scheme
{{short description|Self-managed project in South London 1999-2009}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
The Spike Surplus Scheme was a community-run self-managed social centre in a squatted building in Peckham, South London. It was occupied in 1999 and provided a range of mostly free activities for local people until its eviction in 2009 by Southwark Council.
Occupation
The Spike Surplus Scheme was established in 1999 when a fly-tipped, vandalised site at 39b Consort Road in the London Borough of Southwark was squatted.{{cite web|url=http://www.timeout.com/london/big-smoke/features/5654/Peckham_Diamond_helps_save_community_under_threat.html|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090215224401/http://timeout.com/london/big-smoke/features/5654/Peckham_Diamond_helps_save_community_under_threat.html|archivedate=15 February 2009|title=Peckham Diamond helps save community under threat|author=Nina Kelly|publisher=Time Out|date=2008-09-10|accessdate=2012-07-25}} The building had in the past been a doss-house or "spike" (a shelter of last resort) serving the unemployed, homeless, and urban poor for over a century.{{cite news|title=Positive occupation|work=The Guardian|author=Diane Taylor|url=https://www.theguardian.com/society/2008/aug/27/housing.communities|date=2008-08-27|access-date=2012-07-25| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080903081115/http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2008/aug/27/housing.communities| archive-date= 3 September 2008| url-status= live}} At the time of the occupation, the exterior grounds had been used for fly-tipping. On arrival, the members of the scheme immediately cleared them using a JCB digger.
Activities
The social centre provided rehearsal/recording facilities, health/martial arts space and a community garden. Running on a "do it yourself" and free-where-possible or donations level, the facilities were used by a wide variety of local people. Other users were community garden permaculture groups, martial arts, and various alternative therapy groups. Alongside other squatted projects such as 121 Centre, 491 Gallery, 56a Infoshop and RampART, the Spike developed into an alternative institution promoting social movements and local initiatives.{{cite journal |last1=Dee |first1=E.T.C. |title=Squatted Social Centers in London |journal=Contention |date=1 January 2016 |volume=4 |issue=1 |doi=10.3167/cont.2016.040109 }}
Eviction
Having established a peppercorn rent contract, Southwark Council decided not to renew the contract in 2008, giving the centre until September 26 to raise £440,000 to buy the plot.
Despite various fundraising drives, including selling 'Peckham diamonds' which were bits of glass from broken car windows filed down and sold in plastic wallets, the centre was unable to buy the site. In December 2008, the council gave notice of eviction, saying they would give two weeks' notice of the actual date. The centre was then evicted without notice on 12 February 2009.{{cite web|url= http://www.timeout.com/london/big-smoke/blog/6822/Peckham_arts_centre_being_evicted.html|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090215091846/http://www.timeout.com:80/london/big-smoke/blog/6822/Peckham_arts_centre_being_evicted.html|archivedate=15 February 2009|title=Peckham arts centre being evicted|author=Peter Watts|publisher=Time Out|date=2009-02-12|accessdate=2012-07-25}} People were forced to negotiate with bailiffs to regain musical equipment.{{cite web |title=Spike eviction in progress |url=http://indymedia.org.uk/en/2009/02/421928.html |website=Indymedia |accessdate=18 October 2019 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20121118194544/http://indymedia.org.uk/en/2009/02/421928.html |archivedate=18 November 2012}}
See also
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20111124202039/http://www.surpluspeople.blogspot.com/ Archived blog]
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20090131132416/http://spikesurplus.org/ Archived website]
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Category:Social centres in the United Kingdom
Category:Buildings and structures in the London Borough of Southwark