Fears for the homeless over doorway gates

A campaigner for homeless rights has slammed Denbighshire council for putting up gates over doorways on a building it owns in Rhyl.
The gates have been erected on the old Next building on the town’s High Street after complaints about anti-social behaviour.
Denbighshire council has denied the gates are targeted at rough sleepers but Andrea Faulkner, who campaigns for the homeless, said they could put lives at risk.
She said: “If there is a problem with anti-social behaviour that is directly caused by the homeless, then action of course has to be taken.
“What I won’t accept is that the council are clearly pushing any problem relating to homeless people out of the area and not ensuring there is anywhere for them to go to shelter.
“The only day service that has been available is now closed Monday to Friday, and the two-hour Saturday and Sunday provision is available but the homeless community are not accessing it. This needs to be reviewed as to why this is the case.
“With the cold, wet weather we are experiencing and it only going to get worse, surely the council have a legal and moral obligation to ensure these people are kept safe from harm and from the very real possibility of death.”
A spokesman for the council said: “Following a request from North Wales Police, we have installed security measures at a small number of premises recently purchased by the council as part of our overall regeneration of the town centre in order to address some anti-social behaviour.
“This includes drinking, loitering and abuse directed at passersby, as well as reports of drug dealing.
“These measures have not been installed in relation to homelessness.
“The council is in the process of launching a consultation for a new Public Spaces Protection Order for Rhyl town centre which will grant extra powers to tackle anti-social behaviour.
“We hope these security measures will only be a temporary arrangement as with our partners we hope to address the anti-social behaviour and redevelop the properties in question.”

By Shane Brennan – Local Democracy Reporter