Yorkshire cathedral campers vow to stay

The Occupy Sheffield group moved onto the churchyard in front of the cathedral on Saturday afternoon, after staging a meeting on the steps of Sheffield City Hall earlier in the day.

According to members of the protest group, a shortlist of four venues had been drawn up which also included the city’s Peace Gardens, Devonshire Green, and the Town Hall.

Ben Moran-Healy, who was among 20 who slept in tents outside the cathedral on Saturday night, said a vote had been taken to decide where to camp.

He added; “The decision was absolutely nothing to do with the church and everything to do with the central location here.

“We have got HSBC and the Cutlers’ Hall across the road and Lloyds TSB next door, all of which are symbols of what we are protesting against..

“Here we have got people walking past and trams and buses stopping, which is allowing us to spread the message about the crisis we are all facing.”

The Dean of Sheffield, the Very Rev Peter Bradley, said he was worried the presence of the protesters would “impede” work with the homeless at the cathedral’s Archer Project.

He said: “The protesters do not have the Cathedral’s permission to use the churchyard. The Cathedral does however respect their right to make their voice heard. Some of what they are saying is very important.

“It is our hope that the care the Cathedral Archer Project offers to many very needy people will not be impeded or reduced by the presence of protesters here.

“The Cathedral remains open to visitors and for worship and prayer. The Cathedral Archer Project will also maintain its regular opening hours.”

Meanwhile, a similar protest in Bradford was cleared from Centenary Square to make way for an event which saw the Parachute Regiment awarded freedom of the city.

A Bradford Council spokesman said: “As the protesters refused to move the council was left with no choice other than to issue a court order to oblige them to vacate.”

“We are sure Bradford residents would support our actions to allow major events to go ahead without interference from an unauthorised encampment.”