ACTIVISTS who are squatting in a historic building in the centre of Stroud are due in court tomorrow. 

Stroud in Internationalist Solidarity Together for Earth Repairs (SISTER) occupied the empty Old County Library in Lansdown in August.

The church closed to the public at the start of the year and Gloucestershire County Council (GCC) has a lease for the building.

The group says it is using a building that might otherwise remain closed, filling it with life and putting it back into the service of the town.

They have run multiple events including film screenings, political workshops and talks as well as a community cafe.

However, SISTER says they were served with court papers with less than two days notice before their previous hearing in October last month.

The group was granted a temporary victory after a Gloucester County Court judge adjourned the case for a minimum of two weeks. 

This was to give the group an adequate time to prepare a defence.

The case returns to court tomorrow, Tuesday, November 14. 

Stroud News and Journal: The SISTER group and supporters outside Gloucester County Court last month The SISTER group and supporters outside Gloucester County Court last month

Gloucestershire County Council has repeatedly stated that the group is illegally occupying the building and should leave immediately.

A GCC spokesperson previously said: “This group has continued to occupy the building so we have served notice to evict them. 

“This informs them that they are illegally occupying this building and should leave immediately.

“Once we have secured vacant possession of the building, it will be offered to community organisations to use via a transparent bid application and assessment process, up until our lease runs out in 2027.”