16 September 2020
An attempt by Conservative politicians to push through proposals to fine homeless people for sleeping in doorways in three coastal towns in Dorset has been rejected after an outcry from people across the UK.
The Tory councillors in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole are arguing that a tough regime is needed to ease residents’ concerns and help boost the area’s economy.
But on Wednesday 9th September the cabinet of the local authority, BCP council, which is controlled by an alliance of other parties and independent councillors, strongly criticised the idea.
The council’s leader, Vikki Slade, a Liberal Democrat, said she had been contacted by people from across the country who had asked her not to follow the Tory plan. A petition signed by more than 6,000 people – many of them from outside Dorset – was also delivered.
Green Party Councillor Chris Rigby commented “With the Vote of No Confidence looming next week, (see our News Item of 4th September here) this could be the last thing the Unity Alliance has the opportunity to do for a while. Hopefully it is not, and we get to continue a different, kinder politics.”
An article in the Guardian on 9th September highlighted this issue, and the full report can be read here.
