Squatters Claim They are There to Save the Watermans

Council states occupants are an obstacle to reviving the centre

Damage to the Watermans Arts Centre after the fire. Picture: Guy Lambert

June 14, 2024

The occupants of the former Watermans Arts Centre at 40 High Street Brentford have issued a statement claiming that their objective is to save the fire damaged building for community use.

In it they said, "We are a group of local artists, some born and raised in Hounslow, who see a dire need for physical community spaces for creatives to collaborate and engage with one another.

"With the soon planned demolition of the Hounslow treaty centre we’ll also have to reluctantly say goodbye to Hounslow Art Centre, this means that there will be no creative community spaces at all within Hounslow, this would be devastating.

"Our intention is to engage and be involved with the people of Hounslow so that Watermans legacy can continue. We hope we can reopen the theatre, cinema etc. to the public for volunteer run events in the foreseeable future.”

The squatters, who were first seen in the building early this week, have posted a notice at the building saying that they will not damage any of the equipment still in the building and anyone owning items remaining there should contact them if they wish to collect them.

They accused LGL Ltd, the developer of the Albany Riverside scheme which has planning permission to be built on the site, of prioritising money over creative spaces for the community.

In addition, they claim that the council ignored the efforts of the ‘Save our Watermans’ campaign and that petitions ‘could only go so far’ and therefore occupation was necessary.

The campaign group which had been working to bring about a ‘meanwhile’ use of the centre, was perplexed by being mentioned by the squatters particularly as it had changed its name before the building was taken over.

A spokesperson said, “WCWorks, previously Save Our Watermans, continue to be dismayed by the events impacting the former Arts Centre at 40 High Street. WCWorks have consistently called for clarity from the London Borough of Hounslow (LBH) around next steps for reopening the site as a Creative Community space. It’s deeply disappointing that LBH have, up to now, failed to provide the clarity that the people of Brentford deserve.

“We call on LBH to hold urgent talks with WCWorks so we can identify a practicable and sustainable way forward to ensure Culture and Creativity remain protected in Brentford, Hounslow and beyond."

The notice from the squatters is visible on the left. Picture: Facebook

Hounslow Council appears unwilling to work with the squatters and remains committed to having them evicted.

Cllr Tom Bruce said on behalf of Hounslow Council’s Labour Administration, “It is with sadness that we note squatters have now occupied the former Watermans Art Centre building, and have refused to vacate. The Council is currently working with the Hounslow Arts Trust, which is the current tenant of the building, and we are aiming to remove the occupiers as swiftly as possible. Our priorities are public safety and protecting the integrity of the building.

“The squatters have claimed in a statement that they occupied the former Watermans Art Centre building in order to save arts and culture in Brentford. This is false, as the occupation is now an obstacle to the valuable work the Hounslow Arts Trust is doing in delivering its programme of much-needed arts and culture across the borough. It is only when the squatters vacate the building that we can move forward together with this programme.

“It is also very disappointing that the squatters’ occupation has put on hold the Council’s plans for meanwhile use of the building, an initiative that I know Brentford residents really wanted to see happen.

“Hounslow Council’s Labour administration are still committed to delivering a new arts centre on the Police Station site in Brentford and we are working closely with all our local partners, including the Hounslow Arts Trust, to achieve this. The work on this important development is ongoing and continues to be our top priority. The actions of the squatters only serve to disrupt this endeavour and create division in our community, rather than working with both the Council and the Hounslow Arts Trust for a positive way forward for Brentford residents.”