Hastings council considers a ban on sleeping in vehicles
People could be banned from sleeping in vehicles across Hastings after the borough council proposed an extension of a public space protection order.On Monday, Hastings Borough Council's cabinet agreed to hold a formal consultation on proposals connected with the town's Anti-Social Behaviour Public Space Protection Order (PSPO).Residents will be asked to share their views on whether to renew the existing PSPO for another three years and whether a ban on sleeping in cars and vans should be introduced across the borough.The proposal has received strong criticism that it would effectively "criminalise homelessness", the Local Democracy Reporting Service said.
In a report to cabinet, officers noted how the council had received "numerous complaints" about people sleeping in vehicles and caravans in St Helens Road, Cinque Ports Way, Sedlescombe Road North and Napier Road, among other places.Officers said enforcement of the prohibition would be made on a "case-by-case" basis, with the issuing of fines to be "a last resort".
Resident Jane Tegg told BBC Sussex: "I think it's a very good idea. I'm behind it all the way because I don't like the caravans here. "This is a nice area here and we don't want these nasty-looking caravans parked."She added that she thinks they are "an eyesore" and she worried about "what they do with their effluents and stuff".
'Van is life-saver'
But another resident, Trish, who has a flat in Hastings but referred to herself as a "van-lifer", said the proposed ban was "atrocious"."Freedom of speech and freedom of going where you want to go and travelling where you want to go is being stamped out," she said."I was bedridden for six months. I couldn't move, I couldn't walk. So this is the reason I got my first van."I like to wake up at the crack of dawn and watch the sun rise over the sea. It's my life-saver when I'm in extreme pain."No van-lifers want anything to be disturbing the nature. People like us clean up after ourselves. Yes, you get the rogue ones that don't care about the environment and yes they should be stopped."
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