From John Gatley:-EACH week I buy a copy of the Big Issue from the vendor who stands outside W.H. Smith in the Grange Shopping Centre. Recently, I asked why he was not taking shelter under the shop canopy as it was raining and he explained that the centre's owners would not allow him to do so.

Although I can understand they may not wish to have people causing obstruction or pestering shoppers, surely allowing this young man to take shelter when necessary is not unreasonable?

I would not have thought that showing some compassion towards somebody who was doing something positive to improve their situation and raise public awareness about homelessness would be too much to ask.

Mount Grove, Oxton

Converted for the new archive on 13 March 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.