A much maligned Spalding grot-spot is being cleaned up this week and work will be carried out to stop homeless people from sleeping there.
Those that have been living in Abbey Passage have been rehomed, last night’s meeting of the Spalding Town Forum was told.
Many residents have said they avoid using the thoroughfare between Market Place and Vine Street because of the state of it with several homeless people having set up camp on private property owned by Hills Furniture Store.
South Holland District Council said it couldn’t move the rough sleepers on because they were sleeping on private land and they had refused offers of housing.
Spalding Town Forum was told last night though that those in question had now accepted offers of accommodation and Hills would put up boarding at the end of the week to stop others from sleeping where they were.
Members spoke as if the clean up had been completed, but it’s actually taking place today (Thursday, June 19) and at the time of writing (11am) the footpath is closed for the work.
Coun Ingrid Sheard raised the matter to thank those that had been involved in getting a resolution and cleaning the site stating it ‘smelled fragrant’.
Town forum chair, Coun Rob Gibson, said: “The council have been trying to work on it and resolve the situation but because of the private property part, Hills etc, there’s certain things they couldn’t do.
“We’ve worked with Ed at Hills, who was on board and wanted to get it sorted, as well as the district council and Coun Nick Worth helped no end to pull it together.
“The housing department who have got those gentlemen housed, the environmental health people have helped clean up the rubbish they didn’t want and washed the alleyway down.
“As of Friday, the area they were sleeping in will be boarded up so you can’t sleep under that part again.
“Hopefully those gentlemen are in suitable accommodation.”
