Bars on benches: Cost revealed - String of emails shows how decision was reached

Information released under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) shows discussions stretched back two years but City of York Council did not believe a formal report was necessary, because the "cost and impact" was deemed low.

Almost 5,500 people have signed a petition calling for the bars' removal, but there was no public consultation. The matter was taken by council employees under "delegated powers", without referral to councillors.

More such benches now look likely across York, because the council's new guidance is that benches should have arms, "to assist people with restricted mobility". Such benches have already been added in Exhibition Square and Station Road.

Protestors in St Helen's Square earlier this month

The council said: "The cost and impact of fitting the arms was assessed to be below the level at which a formal decision was required. Consequently, the decision to fit the arms was taken at an operational level using delegated powers. As such, no report was produced."

• FLASHBACK: "Anti-homeless" bars installed on York benches

The council installed the bars in the Rougier Street bus-stop in May, but had not said until now who made the decision or what it cost. Information and email exchanges released under the FOIA show the bars cost £400 and reveal often-forthright exchanges about issues of concern at the bus stop.

One council employee said the bus stop had been turned into "a dump" by school children, street drinkers, bus drivers and late-night revellers who caused more problems than the council could deal with.

The employee, whose name the council has withheld, wrote: "All these people drop litter / smoke / throw up / emit bodily fluids etc, it's no wonder the place is as bad as it is."

They said council teams swept the area daily at 5am but said: "There is not a lot more I can do, I really don't have the manpower or resources to offer more."

They added: "Sorry if I sound negative but this place, along with High Ousegate lane, has been the bane of my CYC life for far too many years."

Police requested changes to the stop in May 2015, following similar discussions about the stops opposite York Station.

The council had previously expected the stops to be removed during redevelopment of Roman House, although that work was delayed.

In one email from May 2013, headed "Problems with rough sleeping / drinking opposite York Station", a council employee wrote to colleagues: "Another idea has come to light to help improve the seating arrangement. Could you consider installing separating arms into the bench so that it is broken down into smaller seating areas? This way the rough sleepers would not be able to physically lie down."

The council has withheld its employees' names in the FOIA release, because it believes they need not be named. It also heavily redacted the police comments.

The bars were installed just days after May's local elections, but there is no record of any politician involvement in the decision.

The bus stops in Rougier Street

In its FOIA response, the council wrote: "The decision to install the bars at Rougier Street was made by officers in the council's transport section – specifically members of the public transport team who have an oversight of and responsibility for Rougier Street (and the other bus stops in the city centre).

"The decision was taken on the advice of North Yorkshire Police, as the email chain shows, because of the problems they were experiencing with nuisance drinkers at this location.

"There had been numerous complaints to the council about harassment at this location from members of the public waiting for buses – and the bus companies whose staff wait in the shelter to swap drivers – and problems with vomit/ urine were a potential public health issue."

The council has said most of the people who lie on the benches are not homeless, but street drinkers. It has said the decision to add the bars was not taken lightly but many people who needed to sit down, including passengers with medical conditions, elderly people and parents with pushchairs, had been left unable to.

A spokeswoman said there had been many complaints from passengers about street drinkers being aggressive, drinking and fouling the footway.

The number of rough sleepers has risen in York but the council says that is partly because York is a more attractive place for rough sleepers from elsewhere and says it is not aware of Rougier Street being used as an overnight place for homeless rough sleepers.

>>> Read the email exchanges in full here

A North Yorkshire Police spokeswoman said: "It is important that members of the public know the real reasons for the introduction of the bars.

"They are one of a number of measures put in place to address the issue of street drinkers and drug users who cause antisocial behaviour around the bus shelters. A number of complaints have been made to the City of York Council about drunk, aggressive and intimidating behaviour, as well as unsanitary conditions caused by the street drinkers. The majority of the individuals, if not all of them, who contribute to these issues are not homeless.

“North Yorkshire Police work with the City of York Council to address antisocial behaviour so that local residents and visitors can go about their daily lives without fear or intimidation. There are also a number of initiatives in place to help people who are homeless, those with mental health vulnerabilities, and to address alcohol and drug misuse.”

Richard Bridge, who launched this petition, said the council had "muddied the waters" and said if the issue was solely about street drinkers, the bars would have little effect.

He said: "On one level, a few bars on some benches does not seem a big issue but the symbolic significance is more important." He said the bars looked like they were "absolutely intended" to displace rough sleepers and said they made York's public areas look inhospitable and unfriendly.