Beach hut clean up

QUICK action has been taken to clean up a beach hut and part of the shore at Felixstowe after a man defecated in full view of people using the seafront.

Officers have also taken measures to stop two people camping in the Spa Gardens.

Suffolk Coastal council's environmental health department sent a clean-up team to remove the horrible mess on the beach and the door of hut S25 Iona alongside the prom in front of the Spa Pavilion.

The incident happened early yesterday morning and was witnessed by a woman walking her dog.

“It was pretty horrible - really disgusting,” she said.

Police were called to investigate. The man responsible for the disgusting act was about 5ft 10in tall, thick set, and appeared to be homeless and to have slept rough somewhere.

Officers also investigated a man and a woman sleeping in a small tent pitched in the Spa Gardens near the Long Shelter, but said it was a civil matter which would have to be dealt with by the council, which owns the gardens.

Council officials took legal advice over whether they could insist the couple move on or would need to take formal action to evict them in the same way as travellers trespassing on land.

A spokesman said: “We are taking action in respect of the tent to ensure it is removed as the gardens are not a place which should be used for camping as they are a public amenity area.”

This morning the tent was gone and it had not appeared to have camped in the area overnight, although it is not known where the occupants have moved to.

It is the second year running someone has camped in the Spa Gardens. Last year a family pitched their tents and stayed for about a week on the manicured lawns behind the theatre.

WEBLINK: www.suffolkcoastal.gov.uk

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