Squatters have taken over the council-owned Goldcrest Youth Centre in New Addington, for almost a month turning it into a real community centre – and so far have successfully resisted all attempts to remove them.

Getting their message across: squatters moved in at the Goldcrest Centre almost a month ago

The centre has been closed since the pandemic four years ago, and the cash-strapped council has had the building up for sale since early 2022, with the usual lack of success, or effort, from their estate agents, Stiles Harold Williams.

The asking price on the former youth club and health centre is £1.2million.

The building has been squatted for the past three weeks, by the same group of activists which has done more to support homelessness than Croydon’s useless council.

Banners have gone up outside the Goldcrest Centre: “Corrupt bankrupt council” says one. “Housing is a human right” says another.

Inside the community centre, Reclaim Croydon has been able to offer shelter and food to people who would otherwise be street homeless.

“What has happened at Goldcrest is emblematic of the failures of Croydon Council,” a statement issued by Reclaim Croydon says.

“New Addington needs its community centres, and homeless people in the borough of Croydon need housing. The council has failed the people on both fronts.

“We are seeing community assets being shut down and sold off, and we are seeing none of the promised housing being built.

“Is it any wonder that we see such high crime rates when so many people are impoverished and bored? Instead of tackling the root causes of this alienation and desperation, the government would rather park facial recognition vans in the town centre every week and increase surveillance on everyone in the area.

Community centre: Reclaim Croydon has been very organised in setting up home in the long-disused council building

“They would rather criminalise the poor than help them.

“We, the occupiers at what used to be Goldcrest Youth Centre, are a symptom of the corruption at the heart of Croydon Council.

“Only through people organising together and taking the power back for themselves can we really see positive change in the borough. Build communities, not cages!”

The council is actively seeking to evict Reclaim Croydon. Bailiffs had a couple of goes on Monday, but left disappointed.

Stiles Harold Williams, after more than two years, are no closer to finding a buyer for the building.

Read more: Squatters take over Brick by Brick’s abandoned office building

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