Homeless people back outside shops after city council clean-up operation

HOMELESS people have returned to set up camp after a council cleanup of a city shopping area.

- By JOSHUA HARTLEY [e-mail]

Lister Gate has in recent months increasingly become home to groups of rough sleepers - a trend causing alarm among homelessness charities.

Nottingham City Council cleaned up the encampment, on the corner of Castle Gate and Albert Street under the canopy of the empty former Costa Coffee shop, in the middle of last month.

In a statement, the city council said it had removed items that had been abandoned or posed a hygiene or safety risk to shoppers.

A spokesperson added: “Nottingham City Council and our street outreach partners regularly engage with people sleeping rough in the area and carry out welfare checks.

“We work closely with our partners to support people who are sleeping rough and to offer accommodation and help wherever possible.”

Businesses and shop staff said the council had likely made the area more appealing for shoppers and other visitors through its cleanup.