PART of Trowbridge has become a ‘no-go’ area because of rough sleepers who are verbally abusing and threatening passers-by, it has been claimed.
Skin aesthetics specialist Halina Jesionek, 30, claims she has “definitely” lost business because of aggressive begging, drinking and drug-taking by rough sleepers in a nearby doorway.
She says her customers are being put off coming to her Skin Aesthetics salon in Roundstone Street because of the issues.
The rough sleepers are camped out in the doorway of The Lounge in Roundstone Street which has been closed for some time.
Halina said: “There are two or three main people there. They change over and there are sometimes parties.
“At the moment, it has been stable but it is just not nice when they are drinking and doing drugs in daylight.
“Also, my customers are less likely to come my way because of it. People avoid that part of town as it is because of those situations.
“I emailed the head of Wiltshire Police about it but I have had no response."
Miss Jesionek, who played a key role earlier this year in collecting life-saving goods to send to Ukraine, says she has been verbally abused by the rough sleepers and felt threatened.
“There have been incidents of aggressive begging and there was some abusive language when I decided to ignore one of the begging ladies," she said.
“She got really upset and started shouting at me. She hates it when people ignore her. That wasn’t very nice and I was a bit shaken.
“The police went down there a couple of times and told them to remove the cling film from the high pillars of their little DIY house but that’s about all.
“I understand that it is a complex social issue and the council keeps working to get those people homes. But those people don’t pay rent or get into work and they are addicted so there needs to be some open conversations between Wiltshire Council and the police.
“I am considering moving to a better part of town. People don’t like coming to this end of town because of the issues from the past.
“Ideally, I would like to stay here and extend my salon upstairs but if this situation carries on that won’t be an option.”
Wiltshire Police have been approached for a comment.
Cllr Phil Alford, Wiltshire Council’s Cabinet Member for Housing said: “Our rough sleepers team goes out daily, talking to rough sleepers throughout the county and try to encourage them to move into a shelter.
“Some will choose to take up this offer while others can refuse but we will continue to try and engage with them to try and help them overcome any barriers to moving off the streets."
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