Please prevent the Arches in Forster Square being blocked off with decorated panels and new lighting. These Arches have been used for many years by the homeless to provide some shelter in an already neglected city which may be going through a regeneration but not fast enough for many people. It may look unpleasant to some commuters but these are human beings and not vermin. If Bradford is to be a City of Culture then that should include everyone. It is a rather ignorant viewpoint to say people choose to be homeless or refuse to engage with already overstretched services that can only sometimes offer lip service. There are numerous reasons including, fear, anxiety, depression, health, addiction and education that can result in people not being able to do what society may expect of them. Shelters and hostels do not always have beds and addiction is hard to treat in these circumstances with an overworked NHS. A vicious circle is created, any person can fall on hard times, fleeing abuse from home, redundancy and other areas, ex war veterans and people do not always feel safe in shelters. This is not simply a choice it is picking the lesser of two evils.

Where is the funding for the art panels and lighting coming from? Do we need more expensive art in an already beautiful city, rich in architecture that is not maintained. We already have the Train Line sculpture and the Giant Sewing Needle? These are peoples lives at stake. A place where they can make some shelter against the elements, this will not solve the problem but surely that money could be used in order to help them in a more beneficial way? We have all had a huge hike in council tax which I hope is not going to pay for people to be on the streets more than they have to be. I am all for a city of beauty but not at the expense of a person feeling safe and secure. 

    Over the years this has become an area whereby people can connect with the homeless and provide some much needed aid and outreach. Local people have put time and effort into building trust, bonds and friendship under these Arches and giving aid at their own costs. The Arches should be left as they are or made into better shelters. You will not cure homelessness but it is sensible to contain it, because all that will happen, is that they will try to find other areas for shelter. Maybe then causing criminal damage to access the derelict, unsafe buildings, blocking doorways, making people feel intimidated and putting more pressure on minimal resources like the Police who do not have the staff available, Community Support Officers and Council Wardens.

 It is tragic enough that people have already died in this area, but it would be even harder keeping a track on the homeless if they did not have designated areas whereby people can look out for their safety. How long before people needing help would be discovered or know exactly where to go on certain evenings for food and clothing. That could be their one meal of the week.

It is important to act as soon as possible before money is squandered again with no real value. Art is only valued if there is anyone able to view it. Human life is priceless. These Arches mean a lot to people.