Facilities For The Homeless?

[mushroom25]

Debate started by recent building works at Basingstoke Station:-
https://www.basingstokegazette.co.uk/news/19092480.train-station-benches-spark-concern-homeless/?fbclid=IwAR005uGEUsZI3Qip6u_Rbs2w1Htu9-ro4EDIoIDFCWCksjgYKdjizQL12AU

is it incumbent on public bodies to take account of the needs of the homeless, when providing public amenity furniture?

[Mozz71]

It's not the station's responsibility to tend for the homeless, it's the local councils. Those complaining are picking on the wrong people.

[davebro]

These facilities are provided for travelers not rough sleepers. And people with addictions - drink or drugs - shouldn't be hanging around near railway lines!

There should be dedicated night shelters with decent facilities where social workers/charities can engage with the homeless to try to find them suitable permanent accommodation.

[Buenchico]

The picture in your link doesn't seem to show anything new. Bus shelters, etc have had tipping seats in them (so that people can't sleep on them) since the 1980s or earlier. Most, if not all, train stations have had separated seats (as in your photo) for many years.

Having run a railway station myself, I also know that all 'Category B' railway stations (as defined by the Department for Transport), such as Basingstoke is, are required to ensure that no members of the public are present overnight (other than in very exceptional circumstances), due to security considerations. So even if Basingstoke station had seats which people could sleep on, the staff there would still be required to ensure that nobody was using them overnight.

[sevenOP]

Perhaps this is a deterrence to the unfunded colonists. ( latterly termed 'migrants' )

[pixie374]

It's not "incumbent" on them- but neither should they try to make it more difficult either. Just make benches people can sleep on, if they need to. It would be cheaper as well.