Camp of homeless people plaguing beauty spot leaves neighbours living in fear |
Neighbours in Tanners Court, in a cul-de-sac in NR3, say a group of homeless people have set up tents on the banks of the Wensum opposite their block of flats.
They claim the rough sleepers have been lighting bonfires, littering, drinking, shouting and urinating at all times of the day and night.
The tents on the opposite side of the bank at Tanners Court (Image: Submitted)
People living in the area say the camp has expanded and there are now around eight tents pitched at the site.
Some locals are scared to sit on their balconies, which overlook the green space, and want Norwich City Council to remove the tents.
One person who lives in Tanners Court but who doesn’t want to be named wants the rough sleepers moved on.
They said: "The tents have been here for months.
"Every morning, smoke wafts over to our block of flats.
"When I have breakfast, all I can smell is smoke.
"We should be able to sit on our balcony and enjoy the weather.
Tanners Court flats (Image: Submitted)
The problem has been ongoing for months (Image: Submitted)
"My neighbours' partner saw someone urinating on the grass away from their tent.
"The litter is awful, it is an absolute mess over there.
"Someone needs to start looking after the area.
"I understand they need to live somewhere but it's not the place for them to be."
SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE
Another neighbour, who has lived in the area for 20 years, said: "There are around eight tents now and the council don't seem to be listening.
"No one seems to be taking responsibility for it.
"The fires are constant, it's every single morning for about an hour and then again in the evening."
Another neighbour added last week, a builder, who was doing some work at their property, saw a man and a woman having sex in the woods.
Eight tents are pitched up neighbours say (Image: Submitted)
Last summer, a person was camping on a patch of grass next to the flat's driveway, started yelling at a neighbour when they arrived home one day.
After reporting it to Norwich City Council, Jacob Huntley, Labour councillor for Mile Cross Ward, took action.
COUNCILLOR ADDRESSES CONCERNS
Jacob Huntley said: “I’ve taken up residents' concerns as the councillor for the area.
"As that land is Norfolk County Council's responsibility, there has to be a shared approach to this.
Jacob Huntley (Image: Denise Bradley)
"It’s important to get people to engage so that they can be helped back into accommodation and also offered any other support that might be necessary, coordinated by the city council’s rough sleeping team.
"It’s often complex personal circumstances that have led to an individual being homeless, and the Pathways approach seeks to provide the appropriate support.”
Folk raised concerns earlier this month that St Stephens Street underpass, which connects St Stephens Street, Chapelfield Road and Queens Road, is becoming a "shanty town".
They said more police patrols and better lighting is needed in order to make it safe to use again.
Inside the underpass (Image: Denise Bradley)
It comes as Zive Capital, which is planning to transform the former Marsh site nearby into a 400-home development, pledged to upgrade the underpass as part of its plans.
Ber Street Garden has been locked up for more than a year after Norwich City Council evicted people living in the open space.
The site at the junction of Ber Street and Bracondale could reopen as Norwich BID are looking to revamp the garden.