A homeless man has been refused food by a snooker club on an industrial estate in Swindon today, as Network Rail take action to try and remove him from their premises.
A woman was refused a burger by staff at the 147 Snooker Club when she admitted that she was purchasing it for the man who’s lived in a tent nearby for the last four weeks.
Station Industrial Estate on London Street is owned by Network Rail, who are understood to be in the process of legal proceedings to have the homeless man evicted from their land.
Club manager Douglas Love told Wiltshire 999s: “Yes, we refused to serve a customer who wanted to purchase food for a homeless man who is currently living on the industrial estate.
“He doesn’t have permission to live on site, and Network Rail are working to evict him. He has refused to move off their land, despite the transport police and management asking him to.
“The man has been using our toilets for strip washing, which is a worry. We have some younger members at the club, and this is not the sort of thing we’d want them to see.
“He’s regularly accompanied by a strong smell of cannabis which lingers in the club.
“I am happy for him to come in for food and drink, but we can’t tolerate drugs. It’s not that I don’t want to help the guy, I have personally given him cigarettes when he’s asked.
“I refused the burger because I can’t encourage him to be homeless. I can’t have drugs in the club. I have to protect my license, I won’t allow drugs in my building.
“I have spoken to Louise at Swindon Homeless Volunteers, who has assured me that she is going to talk to the homeless man in question about respecting our premises and the surrounding areas. I are more than happy to help the group support him once an understanding is reached.”
We’ve approached Network Rail for comment.
