This week 30 years ago: Angry demo after Kingsdown Road squatters evicted in Upper Holloway

A mass eviction of squatters sparked an angry demonstration in Upper Holloway.

The Kingsdown Housing Co-op was furious after Islington Council made them homeless at Christmas.

They marched to their neighbourhood office in protest, but police were called and they were locked out.

The squatters had occupied 11 properties in Kingsdown Road and neighbouring streets since the summer.

Housing boss Cllr Maurice Barnes had no sympathy, though. “The point is, these people aren’t a co-op as the council recognises co-ops. They are squatters, nothing else.”

But the group claimed it carried out repairs and only occupied the homes until Islington found permanent tenants. Some neighbours even supported the group and said they were part of the community.

Cllr Barnes countered: “If we didn’t evict them, we wouldn’t be doing our duty by the 10,000 people on our housing waiting list, the families in bed and breakfasts and the people who need urgent transfers.”