Tent encampment at Park Lane too ‘loud and lairy’ for some

By Ben Lynch, Local Democracy Reporter

A Park Lane business has called for someone to take authority over a growing homeless encampment pitched in the mega-wealthy London neighbourhood.

Some of those living in the encampment, on a strip of open space between the two roads that make up the Park Lane dual carriageway, had been getting ‘quite loud and lairy’, said the business owner said, who queried why they can’t be relocated elsewhere.

A Westminster City council spokesman said the land was managed by Transport for London (TfL), and so the local authority is having to wait for them to take action.

TfL said it works with partners including homeless charities, outreach teams and the council to reduce rough sleeping at spots including Park Lane, ‘and to help safeguard those sleeping rough or seeking refuge on our network’.

Earlier this week, there were 15 or so tents, with items including tables, a shopping trolley and a drying rack.

It was largely vacant, apart from two men, who confirmed, in broken English, that there are about 40 people living on the site.

A Westminster City council spokesman said: “The land the encampment is on is managed by TfL and therefore we need to wait for them to take action. The council spends far more than any other council – £7m a year – to help people who are rough sleeping.

“We work with and commission our charity partners to provide outreach teams across the city. These teams work day and night to offer support to people sleeping rough on our streets. Known gathering places are visited frequently.”

A TfL spokesman said: “No one should be faced with sleeping rough on London’s streets and rough sleepers need specialist support from dedicated outreach services, to help them find a permanent route off the streets.

“We continue to work with partners including homeless charities, outreach teams, MPs, and Westminster City council to reduce rough sleeping at locations including Park Lane and to help safeguard those sleeping rough or seeking refuge on our network.”

Pictured top: The array of tents in the middle of the Park Lane dual carriageway (Picture: Facundo Arrizabalaga)