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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Anger over studs 'to stop homeless' outside Southwark flats | Anger over studs 'to stop homeless' outside Southwark flats |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Thousands of people have signed a petition urging the mayor to remove studs that are meant to repel rough sleepers from a block of flats. | Thousands of people have signed a petition urging the mayor to remove studs that are meant to repel rough sleepers from a block of flats. |
| Residents at the private flats on Southwark Bridge Road, south London, say they appeared a few weeks ago after someone had been sleeping rough there. | Residents at the private flats on Southwark Bridge Road, south London, say they appeared a few weeks ago after someone had been sleeping rough there. |
| The homelessness charity Crisis has called them brutal. | The homelessness charity Crisis has called them brutal. |
| London Mayor Boris Johnson has called on the developer to remove the studs immediately. | London Mayor Boris Johnson has called on the developer to remove the studs immediately. |
| Southwark Council said it was aware of the concerns and would look into any health and safety or planning issues. | Southwark Council said it was aware of the concerns and would look into any health and safety or planning issues. |
| 'Ugly and stupid' | 'Ugly and stupid' |
| The company that manages the flats has not yet explained why they put them in. | The company that manages the flats has not yet explained why they put them in. |
| The petition has been signed by more than 4,000 people. | The petition has been signed by more than 4,000 people. |
| The mayor's spokesman said: "The mayor believes these spikes are ugly, self defeating and stupid. | The mayor's spokesman said: "The mayor believes these spikes are ugly, self defeating and stupid. |
| "Southwark Council are investigating, which is the right thing to do, but the mayor is clear: the developer should see sense and remove the spikes immediately. | "Southwark Council are investigating, which is the right thing to do, but the mayor is clear: the developer should see sense and remove the spikes immediately. |
| "There are far better ways to tackle rough sleeping on London's streets." | "There are far better ways to tackle rough sleeping on London's streets." |
| 'Wrong' message | 'Wrong' message |
| Homeless charities say the studs, which are a few centimetres tall, are "inhumane". | Homeless charities say the studs, which are a few centimetres tall, are "inhumane". |
| Katharine Sacks-Jones from Crisis said: "For the last three years in London we've seen a 75% increase in rough sleeping because of a lack of affordable housing and cuts to benefits. | Katharine Sacks-Jones from Crisis said: "For the last three years in London we've seen a 75% increase in rough sleeping because of a lack of affordable housing and cuts to benefits. |
| "They're the issues we need to tackle, not putting studs in the pavement, which will do nothing to help people out of homelessness." | "They're the issues we need to tackle, not putting studs in the pavement, which will do nothing to help people out of homelessness." |
| One resident, Sandra Kyle, said: "The first time I saw someone lying here, I didn't like it as I didn't like having to walk by them - that sounds very selfish - but when I saw those studs, I thought what a good idea." | |
| However her husband Trevor Kyle, who works in a nearby shelter, said: "A lot of them are my friends and it's almost harmful - if you lie on those you're going to get spiked and it sends out that message, which I think is wrong." |