I live in UK’s ‘tent city’ after being kicked out by landlord at 25 – bouncers patrol streets because it’s so violent
A WOMAN fears “violent” attacks daily living in the UK’s ‘tent city’ after her landlord kicked her out – the chaos sees bouncers forced to patrol the streets.
Fuming locals are outraged as they claim the once picturesque town of Camborne, in Cornwall, has spiralled into anarchy.
Just a short drive from idyllic holiday hot spot St Ives, the area was once considered one of the wealthiest in the UK.
But now, people in the poverty stricken town have been forced to start living in tents as the cost of living continues to bite.
Local residents have blasted Cornwall Council as they find drug paraphernalia in alleyways, and “aggressive” begging sparks safety fears.
It comes as a large number of homeless people were put up in an old Salvation Army hotel, while others are in a fenced-off area of temporary cabins.
However, there are still many sleeping rough in a local churchyard, which had been dubbed “tent city”.
In a bid to clean up the streets, private bouncers – or “street marshals” have been brought in – but their presence has divided opinion.
One woman, who claimed the council didn’t help house her, has been living in her tent for five months.
She told Urban explorer Joe Fish: “Me, my mum, my stepdad and my partner all rented privately and and the landlord just decided to kick us out one day.
“My mum had given up her council house to go privately rented so she wasn’t allowed a council house again.
“My partner’s an illegal immigrant so he’s not allowed housing and because I’m only 25 I’m not a priority apparently.”
Now, the churchyard dweller’s mum has also been forced to stay in a tent, despite severe mobility issues.
The struggling family say they have been the target of frequent attacks and see their temporary home trashed daily.
Another lady claimed there has been a hike in violent outbursts.
“It’s not nice, people attacking people for no reason. I’ve seen three people that got attacked yesterday really and their faces are messes – and the person that done it is going to get away with it again,” she said.
She looked back fondly on the days her mum used to leave the back door open – a far cry from the current shocking state of affairs.
“Everybody’s just doing whatever they can just to get through,” she added.
Meanwhile, one man found himself sleeping in a tent within the churchyard after his girlfriend passed away.
The patrols are a waste of time, the yobs just walk straight past them
Local resident
Chris Davies, 51, held a respectable job for years, but when his partner died he had no choice but to leave their shared home.
He told the BBC Cornwall Council were unable to house him as he reckoned about “80 per cent” of flats were being used as holiday lets in the area.
The former assistant site manager has now been living in the tent, temporary accommodation, and bouncing between pals’ homes for four years.
Reverend Graham Adamson, Rural Dean of Camborne Church, said: “The sad fact is that the housing crisis has hit the poorest the hardest.”
‘ABSOLUTE CHAOS’
Despite local security officers patrolling the area, some homeowners have branded them a “waste of time”.
One resident previously told the Daly Mail: “It’s terrible at the moment.
“There are drunks and homeless people sitting out at all times.
“It’s sad there are people camping in the churchyard yard but we never see the police any more.”
Meanwhile, fellow concerned local Paul Collins, added: “The patrols are a waste of time, the yobs just walk straight past them.
“They are trying to replace the police but without the powers. It’s not their fault – they can’t lay a hand on anybody and the criminals know that.”
He claimed the town is now “absolute chaos” since people started sleeping in the churchyard.
“They are very intimidating, they keep going in the bookies asking people for money,” claimed Paul.
GHOST TOWN
Urban explorer Joe Fish said Camborne was “one of the richest places in the whole world”, but is now one of the “most deprived.”
Most of the high street now consists of vape shops and betting agents, with a significant proportion of shut down stores sitting empty.
“Just off the high street there’s an alleyway strewn with drug paraphernalia,” said Joe in his YouTube video.
He explained how the area was being given money from the EU to help with the poverty crisis – a helping hand cut off since Brexit.
Joe also spoke of the council’s decision to house homeless people in a cordoned-off area in a long-stay car park.
He claimed the move “has created a bit of a hub for crime and problems within the area.”