Tramps on Sydenham High Street

[revolver08]

Hi All,

I remember back when the 'The Two Halves' pub used to be on the high street (shut down) there used to be a groups of Tramps/Drunks (call them whatever you want) who sat about day and night. They caused no harm but we're not a very attractive sight. Since the development of the high street and the addition of Tesco Express they seem to have disappeared. Only until a few months back I noticed a man sitting on the bench at the bottom of Queensthorpe Road drinking a can with a bag full under the bench to go along with his back-pack and crutches. I noticed this man a lot over the past few months and then another man appeared to be joining him on a regular basis. So there appears to be a new spot (bench) that these people have found to drink away the day and potentially into an early grave. I think this creates a really bad look for the area of Sydenham especially as the area is being transformed into a more vibrant place. Just looking for the thoughts of other residents in the area about this matter?

[Manwithaview1]

Hi All,

I remember back when the 'The Two Halves' pub used to be on the high street (shut down) there used to be a groups of Tramps/Drunks (call them whatever you want) who sat about day and night. They caused no harm but we're not a very attractive sight. Since the development of the high street and the addition of Tesco Express they seem to have disappeared. Only until a few months back I noticed a man sitting on the bench at the bottom of Queensthorpe Road drinking a can with a bag full under the bench to go along with his back-pack and crutches. I noticed this man a lot over the past few months and then another man appeared to be joining him on a regular basis. So there appears to be a new spot (bench) that these people have found to drink away the day and potentially into an early grave. I think this creates a really bad look for the area of Sydenham especially as the area is being transformed into a more vibrant place. Just looking for the thoughts of other residents in the area about this matter?

There is an initiative the Dutch are using, which is to give alcoholics a proper job and pay them in beer tokens thus giving them an incentive to work, plus instilling personal pride, which inturn leads to them reducing their alcohol intake.

[mosy]

Hmm. Where would you like them to be? Out of sight I guess so that daytime Sydenham is visually comprised of Hyacinth Buckets since other "aesthetically acceptable" established workers will have left for their jobs up town. That sounds more like Stepford than the family community Sydenham is. Who wants a dead area which is deemed by some to be vibrant just because gastro pubs come alive at night, at least for those with available disposable income? Sure there is a balance, but it is supposed to be a free country.

I assume the Dutch model is job creation of casual work (like community service tasks) rather than income-generating work or filling of existing job places, but I'm guessing. Nothing wrong with that idea although it presumably amounts to a social tax if its creation and administration salaried staff wages are found from public funds.

Don't get me wrong, I have pride in our high street. Pet hates: dropping chewing gum/litter; being almost trampled down by 6-abreast people just off a train and in a wave like army ants coming toward me none of whom will give way. That's far more irritating than people sitting minding their own business on a bench seat.