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23
Jun
‘Motion-activated lighting’ could be used to deter rough sleepers in Harrogate
North Yorkshire Council could install motion-activated lighting in the pavilion at Harrogate’s Crescent Gardens to prevent anti-social behaviour.
Residents in the area complained about rough sleepers and street drinking in the pavilion. The council responded by erecting temporary fencing to block access.
The fencing remained in place for more than two years until the authority finally removed it in April this year, only for the rough sleepers to return.
A spokesperson for the council said:
North Yorkshire Council is aware of residents’ concerns and is exploring a range of options to deter inappropriate use and anti-social behaviour, including installing motion-activated lighting.
The council is working closely with North Yorkshire Police to address any pockets of disorder.
Alongside the neighbourhood policing team, regular visits are being carried out by council officers to engage with people at the bandstand and take enforcement action where necessary.
The council is also engaging positively with anyone rough sleeping in the area, seeking to understand their needs and making them aware of support services.
A coordinated, partnership approach will continue to ensure the situation is actively managed and that practical, proportionate solutions are used.
The council’s corporate director for community development, Nic Harne, last year told the Stray Ferret the authority spent £8.5 million on tackling homelessness and rough sleeping across North Yorkshire in 2024/25.
The pavilion at Crescent Gardens.
Nearby resident Eileen Dockray was among those who raised concerns about rough sleeping three years ago.
Ms Dockray told the Stray Ferret at the time the encampment gradually expanded and people were congregating at the site to “have a drink and chat”.
The rough sleepers were eventually evicted by the council's property services division and North Yorkshire Police officers, but they returned just days later.
After being removed from the site for a second time, metal fencing was swiftly erected at the front of the pavilion and remained until April this year.
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