Concern over homeless tents at beauty spot

Concerns have been raised about homeless people sleeping rough in woodlands in part of Worcestershire after a small settlement was spotted.

Two tents have sprung up in recent weeks along Body Brook, a watercourse in Droitwich, as well as large piles of rubbish and items like clothing, furniture, cooking appliances and sanitary products.

Volunteer litter picker Clive Shearman who has been to the area said: "We need to be helping people who've fallen into hard times like this."

Welfare checks have taken place at the site and officials were planning to visit again this week, Wychavon District Council said, amid claims the site might now be abandoned.

The settlement first appeared in the woodlands at the end of last month, with piles of items dumped nearby in three separate locations, according to local litter pickers.

They have visited the area several times and picked up more than 40 bags of rubbish.

Shearman said they have concerns the rubbish could be affecting the nearby water way.

"The brook is being polluted by plastic, lots of the items we've come across have clearly been gnawed by animals, some of which was actually in the water," he said.

"We've seen insanitary items everywhere, alongside evidence of burning and cooking.

"We're also concerned that these people have got to this point in their lives that they are having to live rough like this."

Shearman said staff from the council had been to the area but had not found anyone at the site.

He added: "Clearly these people need to be supported but if they are invisible to the community, how can anyone help them?"

Six trolleys were also been recovered from the area by the litter pickers, some of which were in the brook, although it was not clear who dumped them there.

A spokesperson for Wychavon District Council said a clean-up would take place of the land, if they found evidence that the site was unoccupied.

Welfare checks were carried out at the woodlands but so far council staff have not found anyone there.

The spokesperson added: "Our homeless outreach team are aware of activity at this site. Officers are due to visit again this week.

"If we believe there is evidence the site has now been abandoned, then we will request a clean-up of the land.

"If anyone spots anyone sleeping rough, we urge them to tell us by using the reporting links at thestreetlink.org.uk so we can make sure the appropriate support is offered to those individuals."

The council has just launched a draft five-year plan aimed at eliminating rough sleeping entirely by 2031.

The proposals includes sending council workers into schools to educate young people on their housing rights, and creating "personalised funding support plans" for rough sleepers who have been unable to get or maintain their own place to live in the past.

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