Council wins fight to ban homeless tents

A camp of tents being used by homeless people in a city centre must be removed after a council won a crucial court ruling.

Manchester City Council has secured a "possession order" against people living in tents in St Peter's Square next to the town hall, effectively evicting them.

The "red tent camp" sprang up last spring, initially as a protest, but soon morphed into a long-term spot for homeless people to stay.

A legal challenge from the Greater Manchester Law Centre to stop the council's bid to take possession of the land failed on Tuesday.

The council welcomed the ruling but did not confirm when the tents would be removed.

"We have been clear with those camping in the square that this is not a safe, suitable or sanitary place from which to access this support," a spokeswoman from the authority said.

"Nor does camping in a public space accelerate their homelessness application or gain them any other advantage."

The law centre formally represented one asylum seeker, who saw the council's claim against him withdrawn.

The case included dozens more unrepresented refugees, with about 40 appearing in civil court, the Local Democracy Reporting Service said.

One refugee told the court: "It's not something we chose or have the option [to do], so everyone is going through hell."

The law centre's Kathy Cosgrove accused Manchester City Council of deliberately diverting people from the camp to an Ancoats charity, Mustard Tree, which had no statutory duty.

She claimed the council "operated a policy of not accepting people they knew were homeless because they wanted to make an example of these defendants and not provide for them".

But Kuljit Bhogal KC, representing the council, rebuked these claims and said the Mustard Tree was offered to all asylum seekers and was open to non-asylum seekers.

"There's specific provision there with interpreters," she said. "The provision to have a conversation in the warm."

Ms Bhogal said that those living in homeless camps had been accommodated by the council either in temporary accommodation or by private landlords.

"It's simply not right to say the statutory duty has been bypassed," she added.

Judge Nigel Bird ruled the refugees — considered trespassers in law — must remove their tents.

He said: "St Peter's Square is a public amenity. It stands at the heart of the city and its amenity in my judgment is available for all.

"I am comforted each of the defendants, named or otherwise, is within part seven of the [housing] system and I am confident the system will move forward."

Listen to the best of BBC Radio Manchester on Sounds and follow BBC Manchester on Facebook, X, and Instagram. You can also send story ideas via Whatsapp to 0808 100 2230.