‘Chill-Out’ homeless protest set for Town Hall

Help the Homeless

A campaign has been started on Rochdale Online’s forum that could result in a mass ‘sleep-out’ on the steps of the Town Hall in protest at cuts in direct access provision of emergency beds for the homeless. 

www.rochdaleonline.co.uk/forum/forum_posts.asp

The initiative, originally proposed by Shirley Kennedy of Heywood, who signs herself ‘Spartacus’, has attracted widespread support and has been named ‘Chill-Out’ to emphasise the freezing temperatures that the homeless endure on Rochdale’s streets and the fact that these people are often treated as outcasts.

Father Paul Daly of Heywood has been an outspoken critic of the cuts and has said, “There is not a chance of me voting for Labour... unless this administration halts the cuts to homelessness provision... I don’t see the [Chill-Out]... as a protest. Rather it is an opportunity to highlight the reality of a situation which the Council’s cuts will make worse.”

The cuts were first mooted in the budget put forward by the controlling Labour Group.

Retired nurse Pete Hinchliffe who posts on the forums as ‘Hinch’ said: “I have been a Labour Party member for thirty years but these cuts are just plain wrong. They attack the needy and most vulnerable. If sleeping out for a night or two on the steps of the Town Hall is what it takes to bring about a reversal of this crazy policy then I and several others are willing to do it.”

The Chill-Out campaign has gathered momentum over the past few days and has attracted a lot of interest. The Rev Mike Wood, former minister of West Street Baptist Church and now working in London said: “[this] sounds like a great, compassionate project.”

Former Labour councillor Lynne Brosnan has also vowed to join the ‘Chill-Out’ as have several others.

A date has yet to be fixed and Father Daly is hoping to meet with officials from Petrus, the homelessness charity soon to discuss the ‘Chill-Out’ venture with them.

Pete Hinchliffe added: “We are not trying to score political points here but this is a life and death issue. A homeless man was found dead in Heywood last winter when night time temperatures plummeted. All we are asking for is a re-think and for basic provision for those most in need. Sometimes it seems the only way to get those in power to take notice is to take direct, peaceful action.”