by Alan Quick

FOR more than eight months a man has lived in the vicinity of Crediton Town and Hamlets War Memorial, sleeping most nights in a sleeping bag under the shelter of the memorial.

Recently there has been increasing concerns about litter and the man urinating in flower beds despite living next to the Newcombes Meadow public toilets.

The "Courier" has spoken with the man concerned on many occasions and before the summer he said that he is staying in the town before moving to the coast for the summer.

However, the man has never moved on and, it is claimed, has rejected offers of accommodation.

LITTER PROBLEM

In a personal capacity, John Shaw, the president of the Crediton branch of the Royal British Legion, has written the following open letter to share with “Courier” readers:

“First I have to state that I write as a member of the public who happens to be a member of the Royal British Legion, and my comment can’t be attributed to being that of the Legion. This is to avoid adverse comment being directed at the RBL.

“I am offended that the Crediton Town and Hamlets War Memorial is being used in a most inappropriate way by a vagrant.

“It has been reported that litter and other objects that have no place on a War Memorial are left strewn around. I am referring to a dedicated memorial to those who made the ultimate sacrifice.

“If this was to happen in any cemetery where family memorials were so badly abused there would be huge public condemnation, and quite rightly so.

“In a matter of weeks it will be 12 months since this offensive behaviour started - surely, enough is enough.

“I am given to understand that well intended people have been supporting him with food and money. I have also been told that he has an appointed person who monitors his state of health, that he has been offered accommodation. The accommodation, I am told, he has refused to accept.

“I, like many, feel that while he is getting food and money he will not be inclined to move on. The debris from his existence is an eyesore and a desecration of such an honoured place.

“The vagrancy act has been rescinded, but public littering has not. I would like to see this issue resolved.

“Also could those well intentioned people who through their acts of kindness have contributed to this atrocity, please take responsibility and ensure the area is cleaned up and kept in a fitting state that anyone would expect to find at a War Memorial.

“Finally it is right that we should help those in need, but where that help is rebuffed they should be moved on and kept moving so as not to cause offence in like manner to others.”

TARGETED BY YOUTHS

Other people from Crediton have been in touch with the police and Central Devon MP Mel Stride to ask for action to be taken to encourage the man to “move on”.

Speaking with the man concerned, he has said that he receives many donations of food, clothing and items that he does not want or has never asked for.

It is believed to be these items that are left for him that have caused incidents of claims that he is causing a litter problem.

Crediton Police told the "Crediton Courier" some months ago that the man is breaking no laws.

Saying this, there are reports that the man has been targeted by youths, particularly on some late evenings.

UNFRIENDLY

The man, who can sometimes be not so friendly, has sometimes slept in Newcombes Meadow park near the St Boniface statue during fine weather and can often be seen with many of his bags of belongings sat on seats in the park or area.

He has been seen sheltering in the public toilets adjoining the park and there are reports that some users of the toilets have been alarmed he is there.

Additionally, there are reports that the man often does not use the public toilets but prefers to urinate in bushes in the Mid Devon District Council-owned park.

At Christmas-time the man received many gifts and cash donations. Prior to Christmas, he agreed to remove himself and his belongings when Remembrance services took place at the War Memorial.

• Do you agree with the views of John Shaw that the "vagrant" using Crediton Town and Hamlets War Memorial as his home should be moved on?

Share your views with fellow "Crediton Courier" readers. Write a letter, suitable for publication, with your name, address and a daytime telephone number (not necessarily for publication), to: The Editorial Manager, "Crediton Courier", 102 High Street, Crediton EX17 3LF.

Alternatively, email your letter, with the required information, to: [email protected] .