IT betrays the true colours of Lib Dem Cllr Ashley Mason when he highlights the problem of rough sleepers in York without providing any solution apart from that implied, which is to move them on because they make the public realm look “scruffy”.
Surely we should expect our elected officials to be more constructive.
It is undoubtedly noticeable that there are more rough sleepers in York since 2010, although very few of them are overtly “begging”, let alone in an intimidating way.
Mr Mason’s damaging rhetoric regrettably follows on from his coalition colleague, the leader of the council Cllr David Carr, who described the “unfortunates” who rough sleep in York as making a “lifestyle choice”.
The prevalence of street homelessness has undoubtedly been exacerbated by the austerity chosen by the Tory/Lib Dem coalition since 2010.
Solutions are complex but, as illustrated by Leeds, co-ordinated supportive services can mitigate the worst effects.
Moving rough sleepers on simply shifts the problem. But perhaps Cllr Mason prefers a sanitised and tidy city centre by excluding those who don’t fit the model of ideal consumers. And of course, rough sleepers are less likely to vote.
Richard Bridge, Holgate Road, York
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