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Councillor pitches up for rough sleeper
(July 21, 2020)A Warminster town councillor has reacted strongly to the threat that a civil eviction is on the cards against a rough sleeper surviving under a natural canopy on church land in the parish of Boreham and Bishopstrow..
“I find that very disappointing if there were such heavy-handedness, if I may say so carefully, about evicting someone who is homeless,” said Cllr. Rev. Denis Brett speaking at the full town council meeting last night.
”I have personally seen him myself. He’s clean, he’s respecctable, he has caused no litter, he has caused no problems whatsoever.
“All he doing is is sheltering under a tree on the outer ring of the cricket perimeter," added Cllr. Brett pitching up for the care of those homeless.
The meeting of Warminster town council was attended using a website system from varied locations by nine councillors.
Three had apolosied, and one was declared absent from duty again.
Police sergeant Kevin Harmswroth was linked in to give a comprehensive and mostly well received report.
“I am due to have a meeting Wednesday evening with Bishopstrow Parish Council about a local rough sleeper that has arrived,” said a leading member of the local community policing team Sgt Harmsworth.
“I know this has caused a bit of tension in the village there.
“So myself and there will be a representative from Wiltshire Council there discussing (by zoom so that we are socially distanced) what option the police and council have and what’s left for Bishopstrown parish council in terms a civil eviction as we move ahead,” concluded the police officer.
This bombshell to those with a different approach brought the former vicar of the parish to demand a more supportiveway forward.
“Some residents have been kind and thoughtful in terms of making provision of food for him,” said Cllr. Brett.
“I personally oversee with foodbank that he has proper bedding, tentage and things like that.
“I have to say that as a councillor I am disappointed to hear a police report that is suggesting that this man should be potentially removed when he’s not actually causing any difficulties whatsoever.
“I would have thought once again consultation with church authorities must be helpful."
In response the police representative admitted that he ‘probably summarised too quickly’ and then defended their involvement.
He explained that they were just part of a group meeting with the parish council deciding how to act.
“My team at the moment is simply making localised patrols to check on the rough sleeper's welfare and engage with local people as we need to and Wiltshire Council have have a bigger picture to look at.”