People in Camborne say they feel unsafe on their own streets

People are so concerned a petition has been started to have the pods at Rosewarne Car Park removed by Cornwall Council after, what they say, is a rise in drug taking, shop lifting and intimidating behaviour.

So far the petition on Change.org. has raised over 250 signatures of a target of 500. Petition organiser Samantha Hussey says, as a resident of Camborne, she is concerned about the safety of the town centre.

She said putting the pods for the homeless in the car park has significantly impacted the sense of security, discouraging people from visiting the town centre due to fear.

“Unquestionably, supporting the homeless is a crucial commitment, but there has to be an alternative solution which suits the interest of the homeless community without disadvantaging the residents," she says on the site.

Residents have complained about a rise in drug taking, shop lifting and intimidating behaviour since the pods were installed. (Image: File)

“According to the UK Office of National Statistics, areas with visible homelessness experience a lower rate of business activity and tourism, negatively affecting the local community (UK Office of National Statistics, 2018).

“Our shared objective is a safer Camborne where residents and visitors can feel secure around the clock.

"For this reason, we call upon the local council to remove the homeless pods from the Rosewarne car park and consider alternative solutions like adequate housing facilities or established local shelters.”

Many people responded to the petition with Natalie Wood saying she felt unsafe in entering the middle of town at any time of day.

“Drunks in the square by the fountain, drinking and doing and dealing drugs at all hours,” she said. “Go to the chemist and get barged out of the way by druggies pushing their way to the front for their methadone hit.

"They sit outside shops asking for spare change, but if you offer them a drink or food they decline as they just want money for alcohol. They step out in front of cars and if you say anything they punch and kick your vehicle.

"Shoplifting is rife in the town and there’s nothing shop workers can do to stop them because you can’t touch them or be accused of assault and you don’t know what they might turn and do to you."

Sara Lynne agreed saying: “I don't feel safe. It's gotten so bad that I'm avoiding walking through the town. This is my home.”

While Jan Ensor said: “I am fed up of being accosted for money by drunks and drug addicts and homeless who get aggressive making me as an OAP afraid to go to town.”

The site was opened by Cornwall Council in 2021 to eliminate the need for short-term B&B or hotel accommodation to house those in urgent need of somewhere to stay.

The Camborne premises for 18 people followed the opening of a similar development at Lys Kernow (New County Hall) in Truro, which saw 21 self-contained cabin units installed.

The pods, which are leased from specialist company Bunkabin, offer residents a bed, desk space, a microwave, shower room and television without the fear of short-notice eviction.

Cornwall Council have been contacted for a response but, in a response to a similar complaint by a woman forced to live on the site last year, they said in the last three years, the number of households in need of emergency accommodation has increased by around 200% to 750, while the number of households on our social housing register has more than doubled to around 22,000.

“The steps we have taken include the provision of emergency temporary accommodation so that residents are not housed in B&Bs or hotels. But we’re also working to provide housing through investment in our own stock of accommodation – recent projects include new modular homes, buying and refurbishing disused properties and providing dedicated ‘move on’ accommodation to support former rough sleepers to help people find settled, permanent, homes. 

"We’re building more ‘council housing’ and have bought open market homes to convert into affordable housing for local people in need.

“We’re also working with developers, local communities, and partners to identify suitable sites. But there is no quick fix and sometimes residents have to be housed in temporary emergency accommodation for longer than we would like.

“Under homelessness legislation, the council has a duty to provide temporary accommodation to certain households and we work with them on a Personalised Housing Plan which sets out the steps they should take to secure alternative accommodation and the support that the council is able to offer with this which can include help with bidding for properties on Homechoice, or a rent advance and deposit to support the resident secure private rented accommodation.”