JMB Manager, Andy Bates, risks electrocution to spread the message of community control at Brixton Green.

Andy was speaking at the launch of the Urban Community Land Trust event when the heavens opened and water poured through the gazebo onto the PA system.

Andy said that initially I was delighted that the audience was giving me such rapt attention; then I realized that people were watching with grim fascination to see whether I was going to get electrocuted.

It was really inspiring to hear examples from across London of residents starting to take control of the places where they live. Examples included St. Clements Community Land Trust in East London, Brixton Green and the efforts to get new housing built on the Andover estate, in Islington.