Time to act: Meeting called as homelessness in Shrewsbury reaches 'epidemic proportions'
A meeting is to be held over how best to tackle the "epidemic" of homelessness in Shrewsbury town centre.
Shrewsbury Town Council, Shropshire Council, the police, and the local MP are to join forces in a bid to reduce the number of rough sleepers in the town.
Homeless people have become a far more common sight in the town centre in recent years, leading to fears about the impact on local businesses and tourism.
As well as being one of Shrewsbury's busiest shopping streets, Pride Hill has become one of the most popular places for rough sleepers to congregate - and sleeping bags regularly fill the doorways of businesses such as Boots, Tesco and Lloyds Bank.
In June workmen refused to empty public bins on the street after they were repeatedly threatened by a homeless man, who was later arrested.
Urine and rubbish
Resident Judith Williams, who is chairwoman of new charity Crane Quality Counselling, is opening a charity shop in nearby Mardol and called for the meeting to take place.
She said: “I am about to take on a shop in Mardol which is presently having the entrance slept in nightly, urinated in, and rubbish left for us each time we go to work setting up the new charity shop.
“There are a huge number of people on Facebook pages writing about the appalling behaviour of some of these people.”
Ryan Jervis OBE, a former headteacher and long-term stadium announcer at Shrewsbury Town FC, added: “I become more dismayed with every visit into my beloved town.
“I believe rough sleeping in Shrewsbury has reached epidemic proportions for a variety of reasons, impacting negatively on business, on visitors and those of us proud to be part of the county town.”
Multi-agency meeting
Clive Wright, chief executive of Shropshire Council, said: “I welcome a wider meeting as suggested as it is clear that it will take a joint effort from us all to bring this multi-faceted problem under control.
“Homelessness and rough sleeping is an increasing problem nationally.”
Shrewsbury and Atcham MP Daniel Kawczynski said: “I would be pleased to participate in the meeting.
“This will have to be a joint engagement between the councils, the local member of parliament, the police and other relevant partners because we do want to find a solution to the situation and we will need help and assistance from national and local government as well as the other parties.”
Leader of Shrewsbury Town Council, Alan Mosley, said: “The problem of rough sleepers in and around the town centre and their impact on local communities and the town is obviously a cause for concern.”
Policing commander for Shropshire, Superintendent Jason Wells, said: “We will continue to work with both Shropshire Council and Shrewsbury Town Council to tackle the issues that are affecting our local communities the most.
"We have already carried out a lot of work to support our partners in tackling homelessness.”
The news comes just days before the Heart of England in Bloom judges are due to tour the town.
Councillor Mosley added: "It may impact on the judges but my main concern is to provide proper support.
"I'm sure the judges will take the problem into account as it's a national problem at this time."
