ANYONE who walks past the arches near Forster Square railway station on a regular basis will have passed at least one rough sleeper bedded down beneath the stonework.

This week the Telegraph & Argus reported that homeless people sleeping under the arches were moved on, with police and council workers stepping in following complaints from members of the public.

As the three people were moved, with their belongings, including a Christmas tree, loaded onto a council truck, charity outreach workers were on hand to engage with them to try to find them proper accommodation.

One charity worker said they had directed the three people to places where they could get free food, and they would be trying to find them somewhere to live.

He said: "People fall on hard times at any time of the year. We will try to get them into permanent homes." He added: "The police have got to take action if people complain."

The move has angered homeless workers, including Julie Drake, former manager of the Blenheim Project which helped homeless women and children. Julie is now involved with Project Winter Coat, which sees volunteers taking to the streets of Bradford distributing coats, socks and gloves to people in need.

"As you can imagine, the women from Project Winter Coat are both heartbroken and angered by these events," said Julie, referring to the homeless people being moved on from the Forster Square arches.

"There are too many questions here. I would be interested to know how many complaints were received and what were they complaining about - did the presence of street homeless people offend people's sensibilities?

"All credit to the agencies trying to find these three people somewhere permanent to live, but they'll have their work cut out. The Council in most cases does not have a statutory duty, especially for single people, and temporary accommodation is dwindling in this city due to savage government cuts."

She added: "There but for the grace of God goes any one of us; some people simply don't get a chance in life for a multitude of reasons. If Bradford Council opened some of the many empty buildings in the city, the poor members of the public would not have to be offended by the presence of roofless people - out of sight, out of mind.

"Come on Bradford Council, you can't have it all ways. You won't accommodate people, you won't open empty buildings to get them off the streets, and you send in a council van to clean them up!

Gary Dawson, who works in the city centre, said: "I'm sorry but it's intimidating to walk past people asking for money when you're coming in and out of the railway station, especially if it's dark and quiet.

"There's no need for people to be begging on the streets. There are places across this city where people can get a free hot meal. I'd rather give to someone selling the Big Issue than sitting on the street holding out their hand.

"I lived in America for a while and over there soup kitchens will only serve food if clients contribute to the work. It's a 'you work, you get food' mentality that we could learn from. But go into any day shelter over here and you'll see volunteers, mostly women, feeding homeless people, mostly men.

"Creating a hand-out culture doesn't solve homelessness."

Councillor Val Slater, Bradford Council's Deputy Leader whose portfolio includes housing, said: "The Council and its partners continue to adopt a very proactive approach to rough sleeping, in terms of providing a street outreach service to go out and try to help all rough sleepers, and the emergency accommodation provided by DISC under the No Second Night Out Service.

"When we find people rough sleeping, we make every attempt to engage with them and identify what needs they may have, and wherever possible we offer emergency accommodation and help to find sustainable longer term housing.

"However, in many circumstances rough sleepers have multiple and complex needs, and are not always easy to engage. The key to tackling rough sleeping is providing this holistic outreach, emergency accommodation and move-on support; rather than opening up empty buildings without the appropriate support and move-on pathways which are needed for rough sleepers.

"The key issue is providing accommodation, in partnership with others in the voluntary and faith sector, that actually meets people's needs and gives them the necessary support to remain in suitable accommodation."