A DIGUSTING discovery of human faeces in a car park in High Wycombe has prompted a new loitering ban to be introduced at two multi-storey structures in the town.
A partial closure order is in place for Sainsbury’s Car Park and the adjoining Dovecot Car Park off Premier Way until January 3, 2025.
Buckinghamshire Council obtained a three-month extension until that date after being granted an initial closure order in July.
The order, granted by Milton Keynes Magistrates’ Court, is intended to prevent ‘disorderly, offensive or criminal behaviour’ or ‘serious nuisance to members of the public’ in or near the car park.
The acts the order seeks to prevent are: “Continued use of the premises for the purposes of rough sleeping, unlawful use of controlled drugs, urination and defecation in the premises, which are a danger to staff and the public.”
A copy of the order, seen by the Bucks Free Press, says that, apart from Sainsbury’s staff and customers, people will be committing an offence and can be arrested if they remain in or enter either of the two car parks.
Anyone found guilty of such an offence risks imprisonment and or a fine.
The imposition of the order follows long-standing hygiene issues at Dovecot Car Park, which is managed by Euro Car Parks.
In July of this year, human faeces was discovered by a resident outside of the lifts on Level 1 of the multi-storey.
Other debris spotted in the car park included syringes, vapes, drinks containers, a sleeping bag cardboard boxes and clothing.
The resident who found the human waste told the Free Press: “For 23 years the stairwells have consistently smelt of human excrement and now by the lift door I saw, yesterday, faeces that appeared and smelt old and presents a risk of unimaginable danger.”
The day after media reports of the waste, the court granted the council the initial partial closure order.
A member of the council’s anti-social behaviour team claimed the problems at the car park had ‘drastically reduced’ from those experienced prior to July 2024.
Writing in a private email, seen by the Free Press, they acknowledged a resident’s suggestion to improve signage in the car park to report hygiene issues.
Steven Broadbent, the council’s deputy leader and cabinet member for transport, confirmed the extension of the order and said the council was working with Thames Valley Police, retailers and other partners to ‘address complaints of anti-social and criminal behaviour’ at the two car parks.
He said: “The order allows staff and visitors to use the location safely, and any person in breach of the order can be arrested. We urge anyone witnessing anti-social or criminal behaviour at the location to report this to Thames Valley Police on 101 or in an emergency call 999.”
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereComments are closed on this article