Spike Surplus Scheme
The Spike Surplus Scheme was a community-run "do it yourself" project in a squatted building in Peckham, an area of London, England, in the London Borough of Southwark.[1] It provided rehearsal/recording facilities, health/martial arts space and a community garden. Running on a free-where-possible or donations level, the facilities were used by a wide variety of local talent. Other users were community garden permaculture groups, martial arts and various alternative therapy groups.
The scheme was established in 1999 on a fly-tipped, vandalised site at 39b Consort Road.[2] 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.[1] At the time of its reoccupation, the building had been derelict for a decade and its exterior grounds used for fly-tipping. On arrival, the members of the scheme immediately cleared them using a JCB digger.[2]
In December 2008, Southwark council obtained a possession order for the property[2] and the site was evicted in early 2009.[3]
References
- 1 2 Diane Taylor (2008-08-27). "Positive occupation". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 3 September 2008. Retrieved 2012-07-25.
- 1 2 3 Nina Kelly (2008-09-10). "Peckham Diamond helps save community under threat". Time Out. Retrieved 2012-07-25.
- ↑ Peter Watts (2009-02-12). "Peckham arts centre being evicted". Time Out. Retrieved 2012-07-25.