People are angry at the council for failing to deal with homeless camps in the city centre.

Shoppers want Brighton and Hove City Council to find a home for rough sleepers or “get them somewhere more suitable” than the streets.

It comes as tents have been set up in North Street and bushes near the Royal Pavilion in recent weeks.

Ken Bishop, 73, a retired police officer from Shoreham, said: “I got the bus in on Thursday and I was devastated to see it.

“I couldn’t believe what I was seeing and nobody seems to be doing anything about it.

“The council needs to get them somewhere more suitable. Laying on the pavement in North Street asleep on dirty wet blankets isn’t right.

“I went down to the Old Steine and there was someone camping in the bushes.

“You think, what is going on? I feel genuinely sorry for people who are homeless but to sleep out on the pavement in the city centre is not right. There are laws to remove people.

The Argus: Outside Co-op in North StreetOutside Co-op in North Street (Image: The Argus)

“People were taking a wide berth around the camp. The Greggs store had a notice to keep the door shut.

“I will avoid coming back into Brighton now. I just couldn’t believe how bad it looked, it was dirty.”

A woman visiting Brighton said she found it “upsetting” seeing the same homeless encampment in North Street.

She said: “He was surrounded by all his rubbish. He’s obviously making a statement and needs help. It’s awful to see this and I can’t imagine what people think of our town.”

We spoke with the man who is camped in North Street. David Hill has been homeless since the breakdown of his marriage several months ago.

A council spokesman said: “The city’s street outreach team works together with our safer communities team to help people to move away from the street and to also remove tents and encampments.  

“This sometimes takes longer than residents would like if there are complex needs that we have to assess in order to safely move a person.  

“We cannot comment about a specific individual except to say we are aware of them and have been working with them for some time to resolve the situation. 

“We are hopeful of a positive outcome within the next couple of weeks.”