11 April 2024
On Thursday 11 April 2024 Watermans Arts Centre in Brentford closed its door for maybe the last time. Green party activists, including Freya Summersgill, the Green Party Candidate for the Brentford West by-election, and Chas Warlow, the Green Party Candidate for London South West, (shown below) joined local residents to protest against the closure.
Freya said “Today our community is not just losing a theatre, cinema and contemporary art gallery, we are also losing an important affordable social hub. Like many families in the area, Watermans children’s theatre has captivated my two boys. With the closure, however temporary, our children’s creative education will suffer. This is a dark day for the local community and is short sighted considering the significant increase in demand the new housing developments in Brentford will bring. Labour are focused on concrete and steel not how the locals feel. Labour needs to recognise how important Brentford’s vibrant cultural life is for the community and understand the anger this decision has caused. Fortunately, the up-coming by-election gives people a chance to show them exactly how they feel”.
Freya joined local residents and other local politicians, but not one Labour councillor or Labour MP, at an earlier meeting on Saturday, 6 April 2024, where she pointed out how that Watermans is an affordable space for local classes, including the last mother and baby class available in Brentford.
The image above is taken from a bag sold at £5 at the Watermans box office on the last day.
