This article is from the source 'independent' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/antihomeless-spikes-outside-foxtons-west-end-estate-agents-cause-anger-as-online-petition-takesoff-10312686.html
The article has changed 6 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| 'Anti-homeless spikes' outside Foxtons West End Estate Agents cause anger as online petition takes-off | 'Anti-homeless spikes' outside Foxtons West End Estate Agents cause anger as online petition takes-off |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| A London estate agent is being petitioned to remove 'anti-homeless spikes' outside of its West End branch after pictures of the controversial ‘homeless deterrents’ surfaced online. | |
| Human rights activist and paralegal, Zahira Patel, 24, – who started the online campaign – says in the change.org post: “Sadly, this is yet another move in a long line of ‘defensive architecture’ aimed at deterring homeless people from sleeping in highly visible places. | Human rights activist and paralegal, Zahira Patel, 24, – who started the online campaign – says in the change.org post: “Sadly, this is yet another move in a long line of ‘defensive architecture’ aimed at deterring homeless people from sleeping in highly visible places. |
| “At a time when more than 8 million of us are reported (one in three workers) to be 1 payday away from not being able to pay for our mortgages or rent and homelessness is rising rapidly, we cannot simply push the homeless out of sight.” | “At a time when more than 8 million of us are reported (one in three workers) to be 1 payday away from not being able to pay for our mortgages or rent and homelessness is rising rapidly, we cannot simply push the homeless out of sight.” |
| Ms Patel told The Independent: “The progress and response has been surprisingly fast. | Ms Patel told The Independent: “The progress and response has been surprisingly fast. |
| “So far, over 2,000 people have signed – since I launched it late last night.” | “So far, over 2,000 people have signed – since I launched it late last night.” |
| The change.org petition is quickly gathering pace - in less that 24 hours | The change.org petition is quickly gathering pace - in less that 24 hours |
| Anti-homeless spikes first became a hot-topic last year after more than 132,000 expressed outrage in a petition when a London apartment block on London’s Southwark Bridge Road placed the metal studs in its doorway, which were eventually removed. | Anti-homeless spikes first became a hot-topic last year after more than 132,000 expressed outrage in a petition when a London apartment block on London’s Southwark Bridge Road placed the metal studs in its doorway, which were eventually removed. |
| Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, welcomed that decision last year and to remove that decision and said he was pleased to learn the developer on Southwark Bridge Road “done the right thing” to have removed the “terrible spikes designed to deter rough sleeping.” | Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, welcomed that decision last year and to remove that decision and said he was pleased to learn the developer on Southwark Bridge Road “done the right thing” to have removed the “terrible spikes designed to deter rough sleeping.” |
| Spikes outside Southwark housing development to deter rough sleeping are ugly, self defeating & stupid. Developer should remove them ASAP. | Spikes outside Southwark housing development to deter rough sleeping are ugly, self defeating & stupid. Developer should remove them ASAP. |
| A Tesco store on Regent Street was also forced to remove similar spikes in June last year after a late-night protest saw activists, dressed as builders, attempt to put concrete over the inch-high studs. | A Tesco store on Regent Street was also forced to remove similar spikes in June last year after a late-night protest saw activists, dressed as builders, attempt to put concrete over the inch-high studs. |