Heathrow Airport

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The Airport said it is working with a number of agencies to find alternatives for the rough sleepers

Up to 200 rough-sleepers are allegedly using the Heathrow Airport as a refuge during the coronavirus lockdown.

It Comes despite councils told to house homeless people, said the.

" The Airport will not comment on heads, the numbers involved, but said they are working with agencies to find alternatives for the people.

Paul Atherton, said regularly beds down at Terminal Five, he had noticed many more rough sleepers.

The 52-year-old who works in Charing Cross , said the amenities, which he relied on in the center of London were forced to close.

On March 27,

Mr Atherton has chronic fatigue. He Said The Airport was a safe place to be, if his condition deteriorated.

"otherwise, Where are we going? This is the reality, we go to Central London , there is nothing open," the skilled photographer and a Film Producer , said.

"McDonald's, all the public toilets are closed. I use to get to the gym, showered, all the gyms are closed. "

Paul Atherton has regularly slept rough at Heathrow Airport

A spokesman for Heathrow Airport -travel-care of said Team was the support in the re-housing of the people.

"It is to work in partnership with external outreach organisations, local authorities and the government promised to relocate The Homeless people already at The Airport to offer only if you are able to safe, alternative accommodation," He Said .

street workers are also involved patrols of The Airport and help homeless people.

But Mr Atherton said there had been "complete chaos" in the fuse of the room in spite of the travel-care team works with the charity Thames Reach . to Achieve

the river Thames, is also working with councils and the Greater London Authority, to the rough sleepers in a single room, but said the number of people involved, there had been a "complex task".

A volunteer who helps The Homeless in Hillingdon, said The Airport was going "above and in addition to helping", the rough sleepers.

"We have offered accommodation to all rough sleepers, said in other parts of the community that We Are in contact with," a Hillingdon council spokesman.

According to The Mayor of London's office, More Than 600 people who work with the hotel partners has been given, the room and More Than 1,000 are available.

The Ministry of housing, communities and Local government, which is leading the resettlement effort in Heathrow, said councils in England had received £3. To help to 2m, rough sleepers.

A MHCLG spokesman said: "We worked with Hillingdon Council and the Greater London Authority, to ensure the vast majority of rough sleepers, which has previously been sleeping in Heathrow, offers the safe and adequate accommodation, and will continue to work with them to ensure those who remain are also protected from the pandemic. "

Mr. Atherton has to be accommodated, of Westminster City Council.

greater london authority, homelessness in the uk, homelessness, coronavirus pandemic, ministry of housing, communities & local government, hillingdon, mayor of london, london heathrow airport

Source of news: bbc.com