We need to prevent the Lynwood from causing further harm and distress to vulnerable and homeless people. They are poorly managed, with only usually 1-2 staff members for over 100 beds. Additionally they own another satellite hotel across the street, that was formerly “The Saffron Hotel”.

Staff have bullied residents, subjected disabled people to evictions for no good reason and have turned a blind eye to rampant drug use. We feel or human rights are being compromised and the housing of so many homeless in such concentrated environment is immoral and potentially illegal.

Every resident has their own horror story and we are starting a movement to make a change via social media. The Trussell trust (Eastbourne) has been trying to take action but they have found it hard to gain traction.

Other residents on the Jevington Gardens are affected by overflowing rubbish spilling onto the street, the devaluing of their properties, violent and anti-social behaviour and drug dealing.

We want the council to impose new conditions or shut the place down for managerial malpractice and widespread disdain that runs county-wide.

So far we have setup a Facebook Community to share photos and stories. You can find the link below.

https://www.facebook.com/LynwoodHotelHell/

Here is a historic article by the Eastbourne Herald from 10 years’ prior about the place being used as a dumping ground for Brighton Homeless

http://www.eastbourneherald.co.uk/news/local/brighton-had-dumped-135-homeless-in-eastbourne-1-1440405

We want Eastbourne Borough Council to:

• Reassess the suitability for housing so many homeless in such a concentrated way
• Rehouse those most at risk in more suitable accommodation, without having to resort to Adult Social Services or Legal Action
• Assess the impact that the operators of the Lynwood have had on the local area including, but not limited to;
• Devaluation of local resident’s properties
• Environmental impact of overflowing bins, pests and general debris scattered around the area
• Incidents of criminal activity and anti-social behaviour by the minority of residents
• Force the operators to implement swift changes in staff to prevent further abuses of power
• Force the operators to implement managerial practices that are fair, transparent and adequate
• Force the operators to improve the living conditions

What we don’t want is to reduce the amount of beds available for the various county councils by complete closure. The operators make a tidy daily income that we have estimated is in the range of £2-5k PER NIGHT and they need to invest more heavily in living conditions, rather that creaming money from some of the most vulnerable for profit.