Backing for Occupiers from neighbours who say: Buy back school

SQUATTERS from Occupy London movement who have taken over a disused primary school in Clerkenwell have stirred up a furious war of words over the future of the site – to be decided at a planning inquiry next week.

The Town Hall’s planning chief yesterday (Thurs) lambasted the housing association which bought Moorfields School, in Featherstone Street, three years ago for £8million, and accused them of throwing a “tantrum”.

Residents have also called on the Town Hall to buy the building back and return it to community use.

“We were against selling off the family silver to fill a short-term gap in the finances,” he said. “We think the Town Hall should buy it back and it should be put to some public good.

“Occupy London are saying something quite similar. I like their creativity and their open agenda. I like the fact they’re not really squatting – they have said they will leave when a proper use for the site has been found.”