Independent Free Area of Wanstonia
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As part of the M11 link road protest, on 13 January 1994, squatted houses at 2-12, Cambridge Park and 106, Eastern Avenue, in Wanstead declared themselves the Independent Free Area of Wanstonia as independent from the United Kingdom.
There is some debate as to whether this was a sincere or satirical declaration of independence, a psychogeographical device, an act of psychological warfare or a publicity stunt.
When Wanstonia was demolished on 16 February 1994, both the sheriff's bailiffs and 700 police evicted the people from the houses. The Department of Transport began demolishing the houses when there were still people in them and on top of the roofs of some of them.[citation needed]
Only 3 people were slightly hurt later on; when a Wanstonian, a site workman and a police officer brawled outside the last remaining flat. A Department of transport official, local community group representative and a bailiff were unhurt in the minor scuffle.
