Video footage shows piles of rubbish, drug paraphernalia and children’s toys strewn across a homeless camp in the middle of a roundabout in Birmingham.
Carrier bags, drinks cans, plastic cups, vapes, a suitcase, clothes, mattresses, needles and a tent appear strewn across the ground in the shocking clip filmed inside one of the city’s busiest traffic islands.
While surrounded by trees and bushes, the sitet is far from peaceful with the incessant drone of traffic heard constantly in the background.
A receipt from Tesco dated August 9 suggests that, despite claims to the contrary, the site is inhabited.
Birmingham City Council said its homeless outreach team is “aware of the location”, which is not being identified, and that it is visited “several times per week”.
The local authority added that its team members have not found anyone rough sleeping, but they will continue to visit the spot.
A local activist, who did not want to be named, said he felt concerned for the wellbeing of the people he said were living inside the island.
He told BirminghamLive: “Apart from the health impact of living at the cut-off point for the Clean Air Zone, where pollution levels are at their highest in the city, these homeless people are at risk from rat bites, insanitary conditions and being attacked by people.”
He added: “The social isolation some of them feel can impact on their mental health as well as their physical health.
“Having candles to provide light at night, and using open fires for warmth in winter, can lead to their camps catching fire and causing them severe burns.
“In a society that claims it cares for people, there is a vulnerable community that exists that many choose to ignore.
“Amongst this community are a significant number of vulnerable women dependant on drugs and alcohol to get them through the harsh realities of their daily lives.
“No one should be homeless, and no one should be excluded from the health and social care services they need.”
Government figures for autumn 2022 show 3,069 people were estimated to be sleeping rough – 26 percent annual increase for England.
The same figures show that in Birmingham an estimated 39 people were sleeping rough on a single night.
But by far the largest number of rough sleepers were in London where an estimated 858 people slept rough on a single night.
Homelessness charity Shelter says an “acute” shortage of settled, genuinely affordable homes mean people are being forced onto the streets in growing numbers.
