Rough sleepers' car park shelters spark row

Rough sleepers have erected shelters in the King's Walk car park

Concerns have been raised over shelters put up by homeless people living in a city centre car park.

The King's Walk multi-storey car park in Gloucester has seen tents and shelters erected, and one user complained it is being used as a "public lavatory" by rough sleepers.

Gloucester City Council said it was aware of the issue and had a dedicated plan to tackle it.

But one motorist said she was horrified by the "disgusting goings on" in the car park and felt "utterly ashamed of the city".

"Today, I witnessed one of the inhabitants of the carpark using the space between cars as a public lavatory, setting off a car alarm in the process," she told the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

"The mess they are making is disgusting. They have taken up residence in several spaces and installed themselves and put up barriers, flags etc.

"I personally feel quite unsafe when I have to get out of my car to walk to the lift, as would any other single person."

She said the number of people sleeping at the site was going up all the time, and said she feared people would stop coming to the city centre.

A spokesperson for the council said a dedicated plan was already in motion to encourage the rough sleepers to find better accommodation.

"People who find themselves homeless in Gloucester have access to a comprehensive range of support services, now delivered by the charity Julian House," they said.

"They are designed to help rough sleepers and those at risk of homelessness find accommodation and access the services they need."

They added: "This includes support for people facing challenges such as mental health issues, substance abuse, or domestic violence."

The spokesperson added the council had dedicated engagement officers working with rough sleepers, and they could also access support via the Streetlink referral service.