Shipping containers being used to house the homeless are at risk of being torn down as neighbours and residents describe the place as a 'complete hellhole'.
asserted
neighbours → use → hellhole
The 'pod'-based accommodation – built out of colourful shipping containers – drew national headlines when it was first built in 2021.
But despite originally being described as a 'dream for all homeless people', the site has since spiralled with problems over the past five years.
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site → build → years
Residents of the 'pods' and those living in the area have made numerous complaints and say drug use is rife.
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use → live → complaints
Locals have even claimed some of the homeless residents have threatened to stab them.
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some → claim → them
Some living in the pods also said they would rather be back on the streets.
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they → live → streets
People living in nearby homes, which are valued at up to £500,000, have lodged complaints over these issues.
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which → live → issues
They say abusive and threatening behaviour is rife, parcels get stolen and they are kept up all night due to the loud noise.
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they → say → noise
One resident, who declined to provide his name, told the Daily Mail things had become so bad that he was planning on moving out.
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he → decline → Mail
A shipping container compound has been used to house the homeless in Reading since 2021
The 'pod'-based accommodation to house the local homeless community drew national headlines when it was first built
The council showed off the new pod project in a series of publicity shots when it opened
But five years on from the accommodation opening in Reading, the reality looks quite different
'
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reality → use → Reading
I'd rather move back out on to the streets, if I'm being honest.'
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I → move → streets
Outside the pedestrian entrance to the compound, 'HMP Pod' is scratched into one of the panels on the wooden fence.
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Pod → scratch → fence
People in the accommodation are supported by Reading borough council and the homelessness charities Launchpad and St Mungos.
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People → support → council
The containers were built through temporary planning permission that lasted five years, with the council's housing department wishing to extend it by 18 months.
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department → build → months
Nearby, people living in the block of flats next door have described the nightmarish problems caused by the accommodation.
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people → live → accommodation
Milan Patel says he worries children of residents may be put at risk from the anti-social behaviour by those in the shelter.
'
uncertain
children → say → shelter
Sometimes their gate isn't open, so they come around into our garden and climb over the wall.
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they → come → wall
It's risky because we often have children playing out here and parents might not be able to keep an eye on them all the time.
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parents → have → them
We also hear them at night.
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We → hear → night
Sometimes they'll be up at 2.30am, 3am shouting at each other.
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they → shout → other
It's not something that usually disturbs my sleep, but in the summer we have to open windows to let air through.
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air → disturb → windows
Neighbours and residents have described the area as a 'complete hellhole' due to anti-social behaviour that takes place there
Mounds of rubbish could be seen in the area surrounding the shipping containers in Reading
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Mounds → describe → Reading
People in the accommodation are supported by Reading borough council and the homelessness charities Launchpad and St Mungos
Old blankets, clothes and empty bottles were found dumped among the piles of rubbish
But the residents are now fighting a proposal to extend planning permission for the container complex.
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residents → support → complex
One resident – Alex Audland, who also helps manage one of the adjacent apartment blocks – listed his concerns in an objection to the planning application.
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who → manage → application
He said: 'Since the pods became operational, residents of our building have experienced repeated trespass onto our private property and attempts by individuals associated with or visiting the site to gain access to the building.
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residents → say → building
'I have personally witnessed and experienced incidents involving unauthorised access to the property.
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I → witness → property
'There have been occasions where individuals have forced their way into the building and subsequently refused to leave.
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individuals → force → building
'Individuals have slept within the internal communal hallways.
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Individuals → sleep → hallways
I hold photographic evidence of such incidents and can provide this to the council if required.'
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I → hold → council
He added: 'Residents have experienced persistent security problems during the period in which the pods have operated, including the theft of numerous parcels from the residential building.'
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pods → add → building
Another local said: 'It's a total hellhole.
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It → say → ?
It needs knocking down.
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It → need → ?
I don't know how they can consider extending it.
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they → know → it
Auld, a member of the company that manages the block of flats, also claimed drug use in the area was open and neighbouring residents had been victims of threatening and intimidating behaviour.
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residents → manage → behaviour
In his objection, he said: 'I have personally witnessed open drug use in and around the immediate vicinity of our property.
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I → say → property
Other residents have also raised similar incidents with me, together with concerns regarding discarded drug-related paraphernalia.
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residents → raise → paraphernalia
'
When asked to leave the area, those trespassing would often become agitated, Auld also claimed.
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Auld → ask → area
Locals have complained about the impact of the anti-social behaviour and have asked the council to not extend the temporary planning permission
One resident of the 'pods' called the place 'a s***hole' and said it was 'just full of junkies', even adding that they would 'rather move back out on to the streets'
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they → complain → streets
One local said they 'have personally witnessed open drug use in and around the immediate vicinity of our property'
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they → say → property
'This has included serious verbal threats, including threats involving stabbing.
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This → include → stabbing
'I have personally experienced threatening or intimidating conduct associated with individuals trespassing on or around the property.
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I → experience → property
…and 5 more, not listed.
The Aporia
