Forum Topic

Why so many street drinkers outside the Acton gym?

The numbers of homeless sleeping rough around the Everyone Active Acton gym (Old town hall), seems to be on the increase. Normally I have sympathy for people with problems in their lives. But this lot seem to make every day a booze party. There is a lot of rubbish and broken beer bottles left lying around.What on earth is the attraction of sitting outside the gym swilling cheap booze? They have started asking me for money, which I politely decline. (Maybe I look rich or just an easy mark).Last night one with a dog on a lead asked me for money??? WTF? My kids are baffled and ask me a lot of questions about what is going on. Its hard to give any answers when I am just as baffled by the whole situation.

John Kenny ● 3571d14 Comments

How right you are Philippa,hence my previous remark,there but for the grace of God go I.

Dr John Stolworthy D.Sc ● 3539d

It doesn't necessarily take much to send life spiralling out of control with all the bureaucracies to deal with and hoops to jump through.

Philippa Bond ● 3539d

Susan,many of these people have great personal problems whichlead to the life they find themselves in,not by choice,when ajob ends,and there is no jobs,accommodation finishes,if married this breaks up,coming out of the forces it is a massive step to enter chivvy street,the answer sort in drugs,drink etc,when life gets to this level it is extremely hard to pull out of this environment,without help which is not always forthcoming.regards,John.

Dr John Stolworthy D.Sc ● 3541d

I don't know the exact stat but its something like 80% of people on the street have drug and or mental issues, sometimes one begats the other. The real shame is that rather than demand they are looked after we look down our nose at them and believe they brought it on themselves. As a nation we have definitely leaned more to the right to the point where some of the graceless comments on here are deemed perfectly acceptable. Sleep well.

Tony Mansell ● 3541d

Not solely the grace of God, surely. We all make choices.

Susan Kelly ● 3541d

We sadly forget these used to be fully engaged members of our society,for some reason dropped out,many are highly qualifiedwith degrees etc,and now the flotsam and jetsam of our  society stuck in a never ending chain of hunger,despair,andhomelessness,and no hope,I am not saying pity these people,just thank god there but for the grace of God go I.

Dr John Stolworthy D.Sc ● 3541d

The key word in Dale's post is "enforced". Without it there is no point in having alcohol free zones. Acton park is an alcohol free zone but when I am in there early morning before the clean up there are hundreds of empty cans and loads of broken bottles all over the ground.

Kim Rugg ● 3542d

a nominal charge is an excellent idea. I have donated a great deal of goods to Emmaus recently and am sorry to read these stories. Council enforced alcohol free zones, and perhaps a drinking area where they could gather for company? Idea?

dale evans ● 3542d

Dennis,Emmaus Centre used to charge a nominal sum of 10p,Ifully agree with your remarks and have voiced my opinions onthis matter before,in regulating who gets what,I am informed to sort out the wheat from the chaff,may leave someone in need without?

Dr John Stolworthy D.Sc ● 3570d

Has'nt it occured to any of you that they are just unwinding after a hard work-out [tongue firmly in cheek].

Bob Little ● 3570d

I thought that drinking in the streets was supposed to be banned.

Sarah Vickers ● 3570d

Didn't the council used to employ someone to help these people? I bet that post has long gone.

Chris Hurley ● 3571d

The answer why Acton is attracting so many drunks is the Emmaus centre Berrymead Gardens. They can spend all their money on drink and eat good food for free . It annoys me when I see them getting free good food , and 8 cans of strong cider in a bag !

Dennis Brogan ● 3571d

I have also noticed that a lot of drinkers are now at the bottom of Berrymead Gardens in the evenings. I really don't know why we have a sudden influx of these folk.

Tony Crumpton ● 3571d