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A rough sleeper has pitched a tent in a North Staffordshire park – despite the city’s homeless being offered support. The tent has popped up in the grounds of the popular Burslem Park.
It is understood to have been there for at least six days.
Mum-of-one Danielle Simpson, from Burslem, said she first saw the tent on Monday. The 31-year-old said: “I took the kids over to the park and saw it then but there are often tents around here.
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“They’re not hurting anybody, I’ve not heard anyone say anything about them and I’ve not seen anybody in or around the tent actually.
“They’ve got to sleep somewhere haven’t they? Everyone thinks they’re there because they’re addicts but anyone can become homeless.
“There are lots of homeless people who didn’t suffer from addiction, on the streets from broken families. It could be anybody. I worry for the women or young girls who might be preyed upon at night with nowhere safe to go to though.”
Another visitor to the park, who wished to remain anonymous, said he first became aware of the tent on Sunday while out walking his dog.
The Army veteran said: “It’s such a shame. Last winter and the winter before, there were tents in the park for a number of weeks. If you go down to Westport Lake there’s always a couple of tents knocking about in the shrubbery and there was one down Bradley Fields for months last year.
“I’m ex-army and there’s a big problem with veterans being homeless. Homelessness for some people is a tragedy but what is also a tragedy is seeing empty residential properties – particularly those owned by the council – when there’s people on the waiting list. It’s disappointing to see that.”
Council leader Abi Brown said: “The Rough Sleeper Outreach Team work hard to ensure that all reports of locations where individuals are sleeping rough in the city are visited daily, with a wide range of help and advice offered to support them into accommodation.
“We are aware of both locations and would encourage anybody who sees someone sleeping rough in the city to contact the Rough Sleeper Outreach Team by calling 0800 970 2304.”
A spokesperson from Staffordshire Police said: “Officers have been made aware of a makeshift homeless camp in Burslem Park.
“Police have attended the location and liaised with the occupiers of the camp. The relevant local authorities have been contacted and inquiries are continuing.”
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