judge at Wandsworth County Court ruled that their occupation of the site was unlawful and granted the council an eviction order.
Protesters squatting in Battersea Adventure Playground have been ordered to leave after Wandsworth Council won a legal case against them yesterday.
A judge at Wandsworth County Court ruled that their occupation of the site was unlawful and granted the council an eviction order.
Campaigners from Occupy London and Wandsworth Against Cuts moved onto the site 11 days ago to prevent the demolition of equipment and facilities.
The council has put £200,000 aside to modernise the playground’s equipment and 40-year-old wooden structures on health and safety grounds.
But protesters have argued that the new playground will be less challenging and the park will be left with no staff trained in first aid.
Protesters set up camp on January 6, the day before contractors were due to move in.
They have since staged rallies which have attracted the support of residents.
Children’s services spokesman Cllr Kathy Tracey said: “I am pleased that the judge has granted us this eviction order and we can now take steps to bring this unlawful and unauthorised occupation to an end.
“The longer these squatters remain on site, the greater the risk that young children in the area will not be able to enjoy going to the playground during the Easter holidays.
“I hope that the squatters will now cease their selfish and self-centred occupation and move on. They need to start thinking about the delays they are causing and the impact this will have on young people.
“We want to provide a really top quality adventure playground and the squatters are preventing us from getting on with the job.”
Emma Umpleby, 21, a nanny living opposite the park, said: “Just because we lost the battle, doesn’t mean we have to give up the fight. The council should still listen to its people not ignore them.”
Protestors are hoping to appeal the judge’s decision.
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