RESISTING THE CORPORATIONS

Challenging gentrification and corporatisation in Brighton

Grassroots campaigners have been challenging corporate power in a series of campaigns across Brighton. Here is a summary of what's been going on.

Challenging Tesco on London Road

Campaign group Another London Road has been campaigning against the gentrification and corporatisation of the London Road area of Brighton, whilst the St James Investment (SJI) consortium has been tendering for "a comprehensive retail development". In essence this would mean another huge Tesco store surrounded by a housing development.

However, SJI and Tesco have now pulled out of the development after London Road residents issued the Council with a 1,000-signature petition against their plans. James Hepburn, SJI's project leader for the London Road scheme, said in an interview with local Brighton newspaper, The Argus, "I can confirm that St James's Investments have listened, and will continue to listen, to Brighton and are no longer working with Tesco in relation to the London Road site."

Tesco and SJI's decision may have had more to do with the economic crisis than 'listening' to the public but the Council can be in no doubt that the gentrification of London Road will meet with robust opposition. Brighton and Hove Council also plans to demolish the Open Market, one of the cheapest sources of fresh food in the area and home to everything from organic food cooperatives to peddlers of legal psychedelic products. The market will be replaced by a glitzy new market with higher rents and, potentially, a housing development.

No to Starbucks on Saint James Street

Campaigners have been picketing Starbucks on St James Street in Brighton every week for the last year (see this Corporate Watch article).

In May 2009, Starbucks opened their eighth new store on St James Street without obtaining proper planning permission. A coalition of local businesses and grassroots campaigners immediately joined forces to close the store down. The group, Brighton Against Starbucks, stresses that it is not simply concerned with a planning issue but is campaigning to draw attention to "Starbucks’ ethos of profit before people; corporation before community." 3,000 signatures were gathered on a petition calling for the Council to enforce the planning regulations. As a result, the Council, at a meeting in December 2008 and after representations from Brighton against Starbucks, made an order requiring Starbucks to quit operating as a cafe by February 2009.

In February 2009, Starbucks appealed against the decision, leading to a three-day hearing in June. At the hearing, with echoes of the epic McLibel battle, Starbucks based much of their case on the disruption to their business caused by protesters and ignored the fact that they had broken the law opening the shop in the first place. Stephen Morgan of Landmark Chambers, representing Starbucks, complained of the disrupting effect of pickets, broken windows and superglued locks over the last year, concluding his speech by saying, "We do genuinely wonder what all the fuss is about in this case of a straightforward coffee shop."

In his witness statement, the manager of the store said that, on the day the store opened, the staff arrived to find the locks superglued shut. The manager went to a local locksmith and, apparently, was subjected to a torrent of 'abuse' and a refusal to fix his locks.

Brighton Against Starbucks is awaiting the verdict of the hearing, which should be in about a month. The group, however, has vowed to continue campaigning against Starbucks in Brighton whatever the verdict.

Guerilla gardening on Lewes Road

The Guerilla Gardening project on Lewes Road has reclaimed a piece of land that had been derelict for several years. The plot, previously leased by Esso, may be remembered by people who were involved in the Brighton anti-war movement as the site of several angry protests. Local residents claim that the garage was closed down due to health and safety concerns (petrol leaking into the water system). In May this year, local residents began a community garden project on the site, planting flowers and shrubs and holding community events.

Last Thursday King Sturge, a firm acting for the site's owners, moved in to secure the site and lock the community out. However, local residents quickly lifted the gate off its hinges and broke their way back into the site.