Squatters who have taken over an old industrial site have been served with an eviction notice.
The South Quay Community Arts Project (SQCAP), which took over the Newark Works former Stothert and Pitt building at Lower Bristol Road last weekend, have today been served with the notice on behalf of Bath and North East Somerset Council who own the site.
A security guard also arrived at the site to prevent other members of the public from entering.
The eviction notice says members of SQCAP must leave the site by 9am next Wednesday.
However, the group have now arranged with B&NES Council to hand the site back on Tuesday afternoon.
SQCAP had written to B&NES Council asking for a meeting so they could hand the site back and discuss with the authority about giving the Newark Works to a community group to run until the site is developed.
The campaigners claimed the site was unsafe and because of its historical value should be protected.
The letter said: "I have to point out that the neglect of B&NES with regard to securing or maintaining this valuable public property is considered by SQCAP as evidence of a failure in your duty of care as managers of public property and we will argue strongly on this point if you take legal action against us."
A spokesman for B&NES Council said: "The regeneration of this location is an important part of our plans to develop the Bath 'City of Ideas' Enterprise Area over the coming years, providing more workspace for new local jobs."
Councillor Bryan Chalker (Con, Lambridge) said he was not surprised squatters had taken over the Newark Works.
He said: "The old Newark Foundry, as it was once known, is an important part of Bath's industrial heritage but B&NES has merely dismissed it as a nuisance and appear to have absolutely no interest in its preservation. I'd like to see it transformed into a much-needed Museum Of Bath."
Charlie Dancey also occupied the derelict 19th century building in 2010.
He said: "We have a group consisting of a large number of people including local councillors. The site will be occupied 24 hours a day.
"We want to highlight the historical nature of the buildings - at the moment they are falling into disrepair and will become unsaveable.
"The site should be managed and should have proper security."
Sir James Dyson had wanted to turn the Newark Works into a £56 million engineering and design school but missed out on Government funding.
