Dear editor,
In July, at a meeting of Full Council, the leadership was exposed as having made plans to evict eight or more rough sleepers from accommodation at the end of the month.
As local councillors we had only heard the rumour 24 hours before the meeting; but it was confirmed by the portfolio holder – no announcement or statement had been made over this change in policy.
By choice this council are forcing people into rough sleeping. This is wrong.
Worse still, in subsequent discussion the councillors are hiding behind a mask of legal complexity when the issue itself is simple.
No-one is disputing that the targeted individuals don’t qualify for temporary accommodation under the normal law – but none of the rough sleepers in Bedford do, that’s why they are not in our normal temporary accommodation.
Most people are surprised that under government rules, sleeping rough is not enough to make you eligible by right for an emergency roof over your head.
Under the previous administration, rough sleeping numbers were reduced from 76 to 2. This helped people in need and benefited residents everywhere and helped businesses in the town centre.
So this is a matter of political will: do we want people to be forced to sleep rough on our streets or not?
At the height of a housing crisis, and a cost of living crisis, this new Conservative administration has made its views clear through its actions.
I urge them to reverse the decision now.
Regards,
Cllr Henry Vann (De Parys)
Bedford Borough Liberal Democrats Group Leader
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