A GROUP of homeless people camping on private land near the Osney Mead industrial estate have been moved on by Oxford City Council.

Support workers and council officers visited the group earlier this week before returning yesterday to issue them with an order to leave and to confiscate a tent.

It comes less than a week after the council voted down calls to re-open the Lucy Faithfull House homeless shelter in Speedwell Street.

More than 1,800 people signed a petition calling for the shelter, which provides shelter to those with complex needs or substance misuse issues to open again following its closure in January 2016.

Oxford City Council spokesman, Tom Jennings, said the only possession taken was a tent because the owner was not present and it was being stored at the Cowley Marsh depot to be collected.

He said: “Osney Fields is publicly-accessible private land, there are no camping signs around the site and there is no sanitary accommodation.

“Over the last few weeks city council officers and homeless outreach services have visited the area to inform those camping there that they are trespassing and offer them homelessness support.

“On Wednesday, city council officers issued the individuals with notices requiring them to leave the area and yesterday morning the council’s street cleaning operators worked with the individuals to remove unwanted items and rubbish from the site.” Green councillor David Thomas said: “Rather than helping Oxford’s homeless community to get off the streets, Oxford City Council are taking away their tents.”