AN EMPTY building in Stroud town centre has been transformed by a group of squatters in the last month.  

The Old County Library - otherwise known as the Stroud Spiritualist Church - in Lansdown closed to the public at the beginning of the year.

It has been occupied since August by protest group SISTER (Stroud in Internationalist Solidarity Together for Earth Repairs). 

Gloucestershire County Council - which currently has a lease for the building - has been heavily criticised by SISTER, which is made up of youth, teachers and parents. 

Group members say the authority has failed to "empower the local community" and provide an educational system suitable during a time of cost-of-living, housing, energy, and climate crises.

Meanwhile, a GCC spokesperson previously stated that the authority was "taking advice on the appropriate action to secure the building."

The protest group has since held a summer school with various activities including workshops, film screenings, political discussions and a weekly community cafe with free meals.  

It has also hosted other community groups at the site including School is a Crime Scene, Community Solidarity Stroud District, Stroud Radical Reading Group and Transition Stroud Textiles group. 

A spokesperson from SISTER said: “After such a great reception the space will continue as a centre for community education and a base for the SISTER project into the Autumn. 

“We’ll still be running events and hosting other local projects - despite GCC asking us to leave it as yet another unused building.

“Instead of another empty building, the space had hundreds of people through the door. 

“Everything is held in an intergenerational way, something we think is essential to encourage young people in Stroud to feel powerful and get involved with community building.

“The only real negative reaction we’ve received is from GCC.”

Stroud News and Journal: Pictures inside Stroud Spiritualist Church in Stroud Lansdown which has been occupied by activist group SISTER Pictures inside Stroud Spiritualist Church in Stroud Lansdown which has been occupied by activist group SISTER (Image: Stroud in Internationalist Solidarity Together for Earth Repairs)

Stroud News and Journal: Stroud in Internationalist Solidarity Together for Earth Repairs

Stroud News and Journal: Stroud in Internationalist Solidarity Together for Earth Repairs

According to the group, the GCC asset management team has issued official written warnings to all occupants to vacate the site immediately and has raised concerns over health and safety. 

But a spokesperson from SISTER also added they have received no communication from GCC in the last two weeks.

A SISTER spokesperson said: “Despite a largely positive first meeting where the asset management team told organisers that maybe a long-term cheap rent could be organised to support the project, GCC has shown their true colours as events unfolded. 

“For the SISTER team this is about their right to turn an empty space into a community space. 

“We have 75 local people signed onto their open letter of support and we've started exciting discussions with both Stroud Town and Stroud District councillors. 

“We are asking people engaging with the project to stand with them and urge GCC not to try and kill the project." 

The team says they encourage anyone to visit and get involved with the project. 

A spokesperson for Gloucestershire County Council said: “This group is continuing to occupy the building and is refusing council officers access. 

“We are currently taking steps to resolve this.”

Stroud News and Journal: SISTER members standing outside the building in Lansdown last month SISTER members standing outside the building in Lansdown last month (Image: SISTER)