The barriers in Huntley Street

IT was a safe place where up to 11 rough sleepers had once pitched their tents, choosing the site for the warmth and shelter provided by air vents.

But over the past year University College London Hospital (UCLH) has attempted to remove people from sleeping outside their premises in Huntley Street, near Euston.

Their efforts drew sharp headlines and condemnation from outreach workers, when on the instruction of UCLH and police, bin workers came to clear the site and throw away tents last November.

They then put up fences locked together to prevent people from moving back, but some people managed to find spaces in between to shelter.

On Thursday, Jono, who had been sleeping by the hospital for five weeks, temporarily moved his and his friend’s tents to the other side of the street.

“Within less than an hour” he said he saw security guards from the hospital move in and erect more fences so they can’t move back.

He told the New Journal: “It’s a safe place and that. They never bothered us. When I said that I was moving, that was it, they were there. Four security guards. You know what, it wasn’t very nice.

“I ended up in London. I lost my house and every-thing. I think I’ll go back to Birmingham. It’s easier to get housing there.”

UCLH said it “secured the area to prepare for works to install more bike stands for our staff and visitors, for which we have planning permission to proceed”.

Planning permission for the hospital to install 30 bike stands and eight bollards at the site was approved by the council in June.

In the planning application, UCLH said: “Due to the size and spacing of the cycle parking stands, these have proved attractive to rough sleepers.

“This has meant that UCLH has faced on-going problems with rough sleepers using the stands and meant that this has compromised security (bikes being damaged or stolen) and is preventing the use of the 28 spaces for bicycles by staff and visitors.”

Elodie Berland from Streets Kitchen said: “Behind UCLH, there was a safe space for people struggling to survive on the streets of Camden.

“The warmth and shelter from the vents provided a rare refuge from the elements. It’s unacceptable and baffling that a hospital, of all places, would choose to shut out its most vulnerable neighbours with barriers and locks.

“We feel their frustrations with Camden’s homeless services, but this is not the solution.”

A UCLH spokesperson said: “People sleeping in tents outside our Grafton Way Building hospital voluntarily left the site last Thursday morning. “We will continue to work with our partners to support people sleeping in tents outside our hospitals, including providing welfare checks and access to specialist outreach workers.”