Protesters occupying FE college in Lewisham are moved on by police

 
Protesters also gathered outside the college. Picture: @LewishamOccupy
@LewishamOccupy
Hannah Al-Othman21 July 2015

Protesters staging an overnight occupation at Lewisham Southwark College were dispersed by police.

The group, which was allegedly made up of concerned local residents, as well as students and trade union activists, entered the college overnight on Monday.

The protesters were objecting to a vote taken by governors last Tuesday to sell off the Camberwell campus, which activists say is due to close imminently.

A Metropolitan Police spokeswoman said officers were called just after midnight to the building in Southampton Way.

The spokeswoman said: "On arrival officers found a group of protesters had entered the building, but no criminal offences were disclosed."

Police were called again, just before 8am yesterday, and protesters were asked to leave as a class for trainee security guards was being taught in the college.

The police spokeswoman said: "Officers were called again, and were informed that part of the college was still in use.

"They directed protesters to leave, which they did, and no arrests were made."

Police were called to remove protesters. Picture: @LewishamOccupy
@LewishamOccupy

Lewisham and Southwark College was formed in 2012 as a result of a merger between the respective colleges.

An English teacher at the college, who only identified herself as Rebecca, said the occupation was a last-ditch attempt to save the much-loved Camberwell campus.

She said: "A group of people wanted to show how much people locally care about the college, it's very well used, very popular locally.

"People were saying they could arrest them for aggravated trespass, so they decided to leave the building."

She continued: "There have been 112 full time equivalent job cuts this year, and staff have taken four days of strike action to try to stop the job cuts.

"It doesn't leave enough provision in the borough of Southwark, Camberwell is a fantastic place to have an FE college, just for ESOL classes we've got a waiting list of 1,200 students.

"The college management are saying it's for financial reason, but we feel they could be looking at other options, other ways the college could be used."

The college has been contacted for comment.

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