Over the last six months, a large encampment has formed at the end of the mooring near Little Venice in Westminster
Boaters living in an “oasis” on Regent’s Canal say they feel “unsafe” because of a large homeless camp that has formed at the end of their moorage.
Lisson Grove Mooring, just a short walk from Little Venice, is filled with a vibrant boating community where many residents live full-time along the canal. The area along the waterway has a serene atmosphere, where residents know each other by name, pool resources and spend free time together.
However, a large homeless encampment, located at the end of the moorage, near Regent’s Park, has left nearby residents – especially women – feeling unsafe in the area.
Natasha, 34, who has lived on boats for 10 years, said that homeless people have always lived nearby and been well-known by their community.
But over the last six months, a large encampment has formed which feels “different” and has left locals feeling intimidated.
“I really worry about it – I don’t go that way anymore, even before there was anyone there, but now even in the daytime it’s unsafe,” she told the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS).
She said that locals are concerned by the amount of people who are using the area to go to the toilet, especially with young children also living along the canal.
The LDRS visited the area and saw a large encampment of tents with lots of rubbish and toilet roll strewn in the area. It was clear that several people were living on the site as long-term residents.
Natasha said that she believes the issues are linked to the closure of the communal area at the end of the mooring, due to safety issues.
“It makes the area look like it’s dead. Now the whole area looks abandoned,” she told the LDRS. Despite this, she said that she still loves the area in which she lives.
“We are right in the middle of London but it’s an oasis,” she said, adding: “I don’t feel like I need to own a house.”
Davina, 78, spends several months of the year on her boat with her husband Josh, 77, so they can be closer to their daughter and grandchildren, who live on the canal.
She and her husband said they love the community, as everyone helps each other out and enjoys spending time together.
However, she told the LDRS that she is aware of concerns regarding the homeless encampment. She said that people in the community don’t feel as if the Canal and River Trust, which manages the waterway, has been as responsive as they would like.
“Some of the women don’t feel safe. A lot of the women on their own feel concerned at night,” she said.
Peter Jewitt, 39, lives on a boat in a different part of London but works on the waterbus along the canal. He has worked on the waterways for over 20 years, including Little Venice, and told the LDRS that there have been a lot of changes in this time.
“It’s changed in the last 10 years – it’s to do with the cost of living,” he said.
Mr Jewitt said the canals have also become more contaminated and filled with waste over the years.
“All the bins were removed and people are expected to take their rubbish home but that’s not going to happen and it ends up in the water,” he said.
Westminster has one of the largest homeless populations in the UK. Over 800 people were seen sleeping rough in the borough between October and December last year, according to the London Datastore.
Cllr David Harvey, Westminster City Council Cabinet Member for Housing and Regeneration, said: “Considering the risks associated with this location, we are working closely with the police and the Canal & River Trust to keep people safe. We are urging the trust to take immediate action to secure the land and prevent further occupation.
“All individuals in the area are known to us, and our teams are in regular contact offering support. Rough sleepers often have complex needs and the council will always work with them where we can.”
‘A legal notice has been served’
A Canal & River Trust spokesperson said: “We understand how upsetting antisocial behaviour on our network is for our customers, and how frustrating the formal processes for dealing with it can be. While action on this issue may appear slow, we would reassure customers and members of the public that those formal processes are well under way.
“Our outreach team tried without success to engage with the group, and we have worked alongside police and the [City of] Westminster to expedite a solution using their enforcement powers. We now have no option but to go down a legal route which is both costly and time-consuming for our charity.
“A legal notice was served on those occupying the site on May 22 giving them 14 days to leave. If this notice is not complied with then we will not hesitate to obtain a possession order through the courts.”
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