Mill Road, Reclaim the Streets 1996

Reclaim the Streets – 14th September 1996

History of Reclaim the Streets

DC sent us this note and photos in 2025:

At the time that the pictures were taken. I was living at 147 Mill Road. My memory was jogged by my partner who met an ex policeman whilst doing her market stall in Ely yesterday. He was reminiscing about when he was a bobby on the beat. He was telling her that amongst all the things that were happening some people had laid some turf on the road. He was very impressed. He also mentioned that there were some oil drums that were filled with water that were used to block the road. He said they had to push them over as the fire brigade had no way of pumping them out.

I think those things were happening more at the other end of the road. As I remember there were about three years when there was a reclaim the streets action/demo. It was all very peaceful and a party, but at some stage the police were brought in to clear the road.