CHEEKY squatters who are relaxing in the luxury of a £1.1 million retreat today said that they were disappointed that the residence had no swimming pool.
John Howard
CHEEKY squatters who are relaxing in the luxury of a £1.1 million retreat today said that they were disappointed that the residence had no swimming pool.
A group of about six young people have descended on the stunning Victorian mansion near Stowmarket, which is currently up for sale. They now have the run of the place, which has seven bedrooms and includes some gothic features.
The squatters -whose friends have been visiting them at their impressive new pad - have put up legal warning signs on the property that they have squatters rights and say even the police cannot just come in and remove them forcibly without officers themselves being at risk of prison or a fine.
The spacious retreat, Broad Oak, is situated in the quaint village of Great Finborough, where the late DJ John Peel made his home.
Zak Jones, 19, from Stowmarket, who was among those at the property yesterday, said: “It's better being here than in a council house and is good to have everyone together, although I am sorry that there is not a swimming pool.”
Kieran Baker, 19, from Stowmarket, was also at the mansion and said: “We are all here because we have not got any homes to go to and the council will not house us.
“I was told I am not a priority. If I had a little kid I would probably find it easier to get a house and I would be on the streets if I was not here.
“There are ten of us living here and I feel the council should provide more. We go shopping in the village shop, we are polite and cause no fuss.”
Daniel Morgan, 18, from Stowmarket, said: “There should be more council housing, we just want a place to stay and not have to squat anymore.”
John Matthissen, who lives in the village and is a local Green mid Suffolk district councillor, said there could be sympathy for people who are genuinely homeless and decide to squat given the shortage of affordable accommodation of any kind.
However he claimed that council officers believe they are basically youngsters having fun during the holidays and not people genuinely homeless.
One squatter said that if they have to leave they will have to go “squat hunting” and find somewhere else to live.
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