Locals complain of 'public defecation and urination' near Cambridgeshire hotel

Cambridgeshire residents have complained about antisocial behaviour near a hotel being used as temporary accommodation. The Nags Head Hotel in Eynesbury is currently accommodating homeless people from multiple council areas, according to a council officer speaking at a Huntingdonshire District Council meeting on Wednesday (May 15).

Ashley Dolling, community protection and enforcement team leader at the authority said: "Those antisocial behaviour issues are being managed well by the actual hotel itself in terms of within their premises, but of course a lot of the behaviour then spills out into the streets in the surrounding area."

The council intends to introduce a Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO) to cover the nearby area as a result. If introduced, the PSPO will target known issues in the area such as drinking alcohol from open vessels, use of narcotics, public defecation and urination, camping in two nearby churchyards, and intimidating behaviour.

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Mr Dolling said: "The churchyard has had issues of residents who have been evicted from the hotel then camping in the churchyard, because it's seen as a safe space for them to do so. Naturally that creates antisocial behaviour issues for people who are using that facility as intended."

The PSPO will need to go through a public consultation, including consulting HDC members, as well as residents and businesses near to the Nags Head. Once approved, it will be enforced by local police in St Neots and HDC's enforcements team.

Councillor Stephen Ferguson said: "I think the residents have been entirely reasonable in their objections. I think they understand the necessity to have temporary accommodation, but I think they just need it to be better managed, so I fully support this intervention."

A Cambridgeshire Police spokesperson said the force supported the proposal and would work with partners to ensure a PSPO is upheld.

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