A Nottinghamshire council has refuted claims from a homeless couple that it has not been supporting them after they set up a tent in the middle of a town square. Lyndsey Webster, 45, and Annmarie Burlikowski, 48, live in Sutton in Ashfield and at one stage set up a tent on a field near one of the town's primary schools.
But they were recently served with a notice to leave that site ahead of pupils returning for the new school term, and have therefore just set up their tent in Portland Square, the home of Sutton's market. Despite having now been there for days, the couple say that no support has been given and that the market has instead been going on around them.
Annmarie Burlikowski said: "I feel as though we're being victimised and since we've been here, it's as if we're ghosts because nobody has spoken to us. Lyndsey served in the Armed Forces for three years and has given to her country, but now we've got absolutely nothing apart from each other.
"We're just getting no help and I don't know whether we will. We're in the market now because we just want to raise awareness and let people know what is happening."
But Ashfield District Council says that it is supporting the couple now and that they have done so in the past. The council added that it continues to "seek to work with the individuals."
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Ray O' Connor, 56, is a trader in Sutton who says that he has been acting as a "go-between" for the couple in regards to contacting the council to help them. He says that Annmarie was made homeless from her previous property for anti-social behaviour issues and Annmarie says that this happened three and a half years ago.
Lyndsey says that she has been on the streets since April after her previous relationship broke down. Ray O' Connor said: "The purpose of setting this tent up in the market is to cause some mild disruption to try and jolt the council into doing something.
"We know that it's going to get harder for people this winter and I think whatever people have done or whatever their background, the most vulnerable should be helped. I've been helping them with things like providing food and phone chargers but I can't accommodate them and that's where the council need to step in."
Lyndsey Webster added: "We're just having to look after each other because the council don't seem to be interested in doing anything for us."
Councillor Helen-Ann Smith, the Executive Lead Member for Community Safety and the Deputy Leader at Ashfield District Council, said: "Ashfield District Council and key partners are engaged in supporting the individuals in question and work in this area is currently ongoing. The council has previously provided such support, in accommodation and help, and continue to seek to work with the individuals. Ashfield District Council has a strong track record of supporting residents in a vulnerable position and will work hard to resolve this case."
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