Rough sleepers outside station moved on - council

A "small" number of rough sleepers have been moved on from outside a town's railway station, the local authority has said.

Eastbourne Borough Council said its station had become a "hot spot" for rough sleepers over the last few months due to it providing shelter and opportunities for begging.

It said there were "serious concerns" about public safety and sanitary conditions in the area.

The council said the Severe Weather Emergency Protocol (SWEP) had been activated and the rough sleepers were entitled to accommodation.

It said a multi-agency task force had cleared and carried out a deep-clean of the area, while support had been offered to those rough sleeping.

Daily checks of the area will continue, it added.

The council spokesperson said: "The current rough sleepers at the station have refused all offers of support and accommodation to date.

"Our specialist team will continue to work with partners to prevent rough sleeping and homelessness in Eastbourne.

"We strongly encourage people to donate to local homelessness charities, not give money to rough sleepers, which often causes more harm than good."

The council said it provided services including outreach sessions, Housing First, for individuals with complex needs, assessment centres and short stay accommodation.

It added that it was working with organisations including Salvation Army, Matthew 25 and Kingdom Way Trust, to "maximise their capacity" to support rough sleepers.

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