Since opening my business 'Prestige, Beauty, Hair and Body Studio' in Boutport Street, Barnstaple, I have recognised a massive issue that is only growing forever greater every week in our community and that is that of the Homelessness in the Barnstaple Area.
Churchwalk - In the centre of our town is becoming very unsafe - not just for the community passing by but for the homeless people who inhabit it. Over the last few months, I have watched several of my homeless friends who have serious addictions, fall victim to falling over the rails of the church buildings - sometimes falling from as high as 15-17ft suffering nearly fatal injuries - one man even had to be airlifted to hospital this week, which we all know is an expensive way to travel and is not sustainable for any community. Some will argue that they shouldn't be sitting there, but I protest that they have little option but to use the steps and rails since the council made the decision of removing the benches and bins as a way to try to move these people on - Which, in my opinion only made the situation worse, as it didn't make a difference at all to the number congregating there and was not a healthy solution at all.
I fear that if there is not action taken to close off churchwalk from being used by the homeless - and further action to build an outside communal area - which provides benches to sleep on (AS THE FREEDOM CENTRE CLOSES IN SUMMERTIME FOR SAFE SLEEP - Why this is, I do not know?), bins to put waste in and addiction support programs which can be available to them (Which Prestige Studio itself is now trailing) then I can see there being a fatality very soon within our town which could be avoided if we all pull together to aid this situation.
THIS NEEDS ATTENTION DESPERATELY.
Please sign this petition to start a movement which can help this situation before something dreadful happens.
Thank you for reading!
Love & Peace
