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Homeless man sets up tent in council protest

Sunday, 21st October 2001.

A HOMELESS man furious at St Edmundsburys refusal to treat his case a priority has set up his tent outside the council’s offices in Western Way in Bury St Edmunds.

Paul Simpson, 35, pitched his tent on grass outside the Council's offices in on Thursday night and stayed there throughout Friday, according to reports in the East Anglian Daily Times.

Mr Simpson has been a council tenant since 1998 is angry and upset the authority has failed to provide him with a suitable home weeks after the break-up of his relationship, which left him homeless.

Recently he has slept in a campsite and at his mothers house in Bury, however he is unable to stay there because that would affect his benefit payments, and he cannot return to the campsite because he is unable to pay the back rent.

St Edmundsbury Council had offered temporary accommodation at the Tayfen House hostel in Bury St Edmunds but he was forced to turn the offer down because he needs a home big enough for his two children to visit on weekends.

Mr Simpson, who now receives disability benefit, has previously stayed at the hstel after suffering injuries in a road accident that left him with metal rods in an arm and a leg.

According to Mr Simpson there are suitable properties about but he says the council is not treating his case as a priority. Speaking to the East Anglian Daily Times Mr Simpson said he wouldstay in his tent outside the council offices until they found him a new home.

He said: "I am not leaving here until I get accommodation. How can I have a steady life, get a job and settle down if I am not settled? I am staying here until they give me accommodation and if they call the police in then at least if I am arrested I will have a roof over my head and three meals a day."

He added that he was unable to accept the offer at Tayfen House because he would not be able to see his 14-year-old daughter Bianca or 13-year-old son Ben, because children are not allowed in the building.

Senior Housing Officer at the Council, Jim Bardoe, said efforts were being made to find Mr Simpson a new home but that no suitable properties were currently available.

Mr Bardoe said: "Mr Simpson is reasonably well-placed on our waiting list but is not quite at the top. Having seen him today, we immediately contacted Tayfen House, who had a vacancy for him, but he has refused that. The offer was not a permanent one but would put a roof over his head, which has got to be better than sleeping outside.”

Mr Bardoe went on to say: "His application for housing has been reviewed this week because of his uncertain movements – he has moved from several addresses in the last couple of weeks. Whenever a person's circumstances change the housing list takes that into account so if someone's needs become more urgent, it can be flagged up and people can move, subject to vacancies being available.

He added: "We have nothing vacant at the moment but it is quite a fluid situation and things do change."

Haverhill Weekly News

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