Notice served on churchyard dwellers

Slough: Reports of tents pitched on graves and human fouling

People who have been living in tents in the St Mary’s churchyard in Slough town centre have been told to leave.

The church has experienced a number of problems including the pitching of tents on graves, human fouling and urination in the churchyard grounds, on graves and on the church itself.

Slough Borough Council (SBC) said drug taking and drinking has also been taking place in the church grounds, disrupting church services, while uncontrolled fires have also been reported.

The council served notice on those living in tents at St Mary’s to leave the premises on Friday, April 29, giving them until Tuesday to remove all their possessions.

This followed discussions with the church and Thames Valley Police.

SBC confirmed yesterday (Thursday) that the people were not there when it cleared the site on Tuesday, but one of the tents had been ‘burned’.

“We cleared the site of the tents and other refuse,” a spokeswoman added.

Greg Edmond, principal enforcement officer, said: “The church has been patient for a very long time but the behaviour by the people living in these tents, the tents themselves and the behaviour of the outside visitors they attract, are having a severe and detrimental effect on the area and on the relatives of those buried at St. Mary’s.

“Intensive work by the council’s outreach team has meant numerous people who were living within the graveyard have engaged with services and been helped to find suitable accommodation. The church too has been tireless in their support for those people and their visitors.

“Unfortunately, those who are left have been unwilling to change their behaviour or access any of the services who can help and support them.

“And, worst of all, their behaviour is now directed at the church itself and not just in the grounds.

“Now we are saying ‘enough is enough, this antisocial behaviour and the other behaviour it encourages in the area cannot continue’ and we are taking action.”

Garry Tallett, group manager for community safety, housing regulation and enforcement said: “The plight of genuinely homeless residents and the circumstances that drive people to camp is something we can all sympathise with.

“However, there are multiple organisations who are there to help, who have offered to help, but nothing has changed.

“Churchyards and churches are hallowed ground and do not deserve to be disrespected in this way. We need to take action to protect the resting places of those who have come before us.”

The council said the formal notice included information on organisations where they can get help with homelessness, health and addiction issues.