London street transformed into 'shanty town' as homeless set up dozens of tents
A central London street has been transformed into a homeless 'shanty town' - with dozens of tents now lining the side of the road.
Video shows a long line of ramshackle structures set up on Euston Road, with more on nearby Gower Street - and both are close to shopping hub Tottenham Court Road.
At least 46 tents have been tied to trees and are on wooden pallets to avoid wet ground, while laundry drying on racks, mattresses, and chairs are also visible.
The shelters are also furnished with tables, and religious ornaments - while picnic rugs and blankets cover the ground outside.
A dumpster in one of the camps is overflowing with waste, including carrier bags from posh supermarkets Ocado and Waitrose and a disposable Costa Coffee cup.
Some residents were yesterday (Thurs) found to be migrants from across Europe.
Giuliano, who owns the ‘Chicken Hut’ stand next to the camp, said he was "a bit annoyed" by people going to the toilet behind his stand.
He said: “It started off with two on that side and two off this side, now there’s about 30. They’re not leaving the walkway free.
"I’m not frustrated, but I’m a bit annoyed that they come and do their business round there [behind the stand].
“Even yesterday we had one guy who just walked along and came from there and, boom, he did his business.”
Homeless Akbar Bardakçi, from Romania, speaking through Google Translate, said he was sleeping rough in the area as his son had died in England and he was waiting to take him back to his home country
He said: “It’s dangerous on the street, because there are many people who do drugs, or hit you in the head. They walk around with knives.”
Also speaking through Google Translate, Costa, 52, who sleeps rough at the camp, has lived in England for five years.
Prior to moving to the camp, he was living on the street elsewhere.
He said: “What can we live on in Romania? We don’t have what we live on in Romania.”
Costa said he was unable to work, adding: “I am an old man at 52 years old, and I don’t know the language.
“I’ve been living in England for a long time, I’ve been here for five years, six years.”
Just yards away, Big Issue seller of 11 years Peter Ward, 69, says he enjoys being homeless because of the "freedom" it gives him.
However, he said he wouldn’t pitch his tent on the Tottenham Court Road camp as he "doesn’t speak Romanian" – instead preferring to take buses out to near Hampton Court Palace for the "peace and tranquillity".
Peter said: “We all live the lives we make for ourselves, and then we blame everyone else – isn’t it funny that we do that, but that’s human nature."
A Camden Council spokesperson said: “This is not a situation that can continue.
“We are concerned for the welfare of people rough sleeping here and we take residents’ concerns very seriously.
“Our urgent focus is on working with partners, including the landowners, to prioritise helping people rough sleeping here rebuild their lives away from the streets.
“This means finding suitable accommodation and providing the range of support they need, while making sure the area is safe, secure and maintained for everyone.”
A spokesperson for the Mayor of London said: “The Mayor is clear that no one should have to sleep rough and under his leadership, more than 18,000 people have been helped off the streets.
"Sadiq has launched a bold new Plan of Action to end rough sleeping for good by 2030 and provided record City Hall funding - including the single biggest investment of £10 million earlier this year – more than any London Mayor.
“The Mayor is delivering a new Ending Homelessness Hub and expanding his Homes off the Streets programme, alongside establishing a prevention phoneline and funding more support workers in our communities.
"Sadiq will continue to work closely with the Government, London Councils and the homelessness sector to tackle this crisis and build a safer, fairer London for everyone.”