Cwtch activists take over old JT Morgan building
ACTIVISTS who ran the self-styled Cwtch Community Centre in a disused hotel have taken over another empty building.
The group left the Dolphin Hotel in Swansea city centre this week after its owners took legal action to force them out.
But now they have moved to the former JT Morgan department store in Belle Vue Way near the Dragon Hotel — and say they are planning a bigger and better community facility.
One of those involved in the occupation of the empty shop — who is known only as Rev — said members had been searching for a suitable building for some time when they happened upon JT Morgan.
He said: "We've been on the look-out for a building for a while.
"We were looking at the JT Morgan building when we saw a window was open on the ground floor — so in we went."
He said the members of the group did not cause any criminal damage to the property as they entered.
The group entered the Dolphin Hotel in the early hours of January 31 and established the Cwtch Community Centre there, which offered free tea and coffee and accommodation for those without a home.
At the eviction hearing on Tuesday in Swansea County Court, Natasha Moran, barrister for Somerset businessman Altaf Nanji, landlord of the Dolphin Hotel building, said he had been looking to bring the building back into commercial use and had been using property agents in Cardiff to help find a tenant.
The family-owned JT Morgan store went into administration in 2008, making 60 staff redundant, and was bought later the same year. It has since been run by its management board.
The iconic building in Swansea's Belle Vue Way has stood empty since the store went into administration.







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by Hadoken1978
Thursday, March 01 2012, 7:40PM
“Poor Cwtch, in the space of 3 weeks they've been evicted from 3 properties, leaked sewage (and cost traders money) and caused people to spend 1000's of pounds evicting them. While they claim their dole and they've done nothing positive.
These low end anarchists are really living the dream!!
Led by a woman who had a mental breakdown 10 years ago and ended up working in charity shop.
CWTCH are by far the biggest jokes in the squatting world. What next guys, are you going to take over the big apple sand and bucket stall down the mumbles!!!”
by bouncerchris
Friday, February 17 2012, 10:22AM
“clydecash 2012 is right what he is saying if they realy want to help people they could rent a building very cheap and get funding to do it but they dont want to as thats what squaters do as that is why they squat so they dont have to pay rent there cause to help people is a sham any one with a mind can see that they may have an idea to help people but they are doing it the wrong way if they want to help the homeless thats fine but they are leting anyone go in there . and leting drug users use drug in front of kids / hows that helping there cause and they are not thinking of the safety of other people or the safety of the kids takeing drugs in front of kids is bad . but leting anyone in there when doing work shops for kids without vetting and given poilce crb check is wrong as they dont know the backgrounds of the people in there and its not safe for the kids”
by bouncerchris
Friday, February 17 2012, 8:55AM
“dick /e first of all its not up to me to prove they were useing drugs its the police second they was filmed on a mobile cam useing drugs in front of kids ive seen it on the phone so its not here say and i work and own my own company give my money and time to the homeless not that its any thing to do with you people need to know whats realy going on in there so you can keep ranting and defending them as much as you like fact is they was only sitting around drinking tea and takeing drugs so no matter what you say will not change my mind as ive seen the prove for my self”
by ClydeCash2012
Friday, February 17 2012, 8:31AM
“@sipajones
I don't know why you are spreading misinformation, and claiming that it is impossible for community groups to cheaply rent disused property from Swansea Council; community groups such as One People Productions, Swansea Community Films and Hafod Film-Making group have done just that, and have also received grants from the Council. The Cwtch community could have done exactly the same and have been given a property to cheaply rent from the Council, AND have been given financial assistance from the Council to run it; however, the Cwtch community probably think it is more trendy and 'alternative' to squat in someone else's property.
Spreading falsehoods does your cause absolutely no good whatsoever, so please be truthful...”
by dick_e
Thursday, February 16 2012, 6:41PM
“@ bouncerchris: ""enough said i think i rest my case dick /head lol" ""
Yes Dear, insults are an excellent way to get the lack of an argument across. But no, (just like one or two other ill-informed commentators on here) you haven't made any case AT all, but instead just naively rabbited on about how you THOUGHT they were using drugs. You cannot substantiate ANY of your statements so instead just spout random nonsense and pathetic disinformation.
@hadoken1977 "Did you think they hold down jobs, families, have social standing"
ahh.., but I'm sure they do have all those things. The question is, do you?”
by ser10
Thursday, February 16 2012, 6:17PM
“@ hadoken 1977
a) The woman I am talking about has not had a breakdown and does not work in a charity shop.
b) How much time did your friend spend there? Because if it was a Sunday afternoon then I am sure they did drink tea and play guitar - Sunday 4 - 9pm was advertised as open mic night.
c) You refuse to answer the question - what do you do to help the community? And do you have a job?”
by aberbear
Thursday, February 16 2012, 6:01PM
“you talk of these people like they are scum, wasters, low lives etc, but does anyone really know anything? or all you so bored with your daily routines that you have to bash everyone else down to make you feel superior? come on give them a break, or a chance, you have given the corporate greed's of this country get away with so much, it's time to fight back don't you think? you think Swansea is run by a bunch of law abiding kind caring sensible people?”
by bouncerchris
Thursday, February 16 2012, 5:08PM
“nice to see hadoken 1977 have spoke up about what realy was going on in there”
by bouncerchris
Thursday, February 16 2012, 5:06PM
“see dick e / ********* i rest my case”
by bouncerchris
Thursday, February 16 2012, 5:04PM
“enough said i think i rest my case dick /head lol”