Bicycles recovered as underpass encampment dismantled
Dozens of expensive bicycles have been recovered from a makeshift encampment after an investigation into stolen bikes.
The bicycles were discovered alongside tents, rubbish and charity donations in the underpass of the A322 at Royal Windsor Way, near the Jubilee River.
Three people were also found living in the encampment, which included a makeshift property, complete with windows, with no toilet facilities, electricity or running water.
The encampment was discovered as part of a proactive campaign between the council and Thames Valley Police to stymie the trade in stolen bikes. The site was discovered after a visit by the police, Eton College security and the council’s resilience and enforcement team officers.
The accommodation and waste was removed by the council’s environmental waste team which cleared the site and removed more than nine tonnes of rubbish. It included mattresses, drug paraphernalia, human faeces, out of date food and large quantities of clothes and children’s toys which appeared to have been taken from outside of charity shops or clothing banks.
Dozens of high-value bicycles, which were believed to have been stolen, were also found at the site as well as bicycle parts which were being used to make hybrid machines.
Thames Valley Police will now attempt to reunite the bikes with their rightful owners.
The people living at the site were given help and advice by the housing team at the council after the site was cleared.
Ian Blake, neighbourhood manager, resilience and enforcement, said: “Once we realised the scale of the encampment and what was happening there, we had to go in and remove it.
“There was so much waste there and the conditions were not hygienic to live in and was causing a nuisance.
He added a second separate site had been cleared just weeks before in Church Street, Slough, where bicycles were changing hands as well as items intended for charity shops and clothing bands.
He added: “It was clear to officers during these operations items generously donated to those in need were ending up being misused.
“Residents who want to donate to charity are asked not to leave any items on the doorsteps of shops and make sure they are placed correctly in clothing bins.”
Cllr Pavitar K. Mann, cabinet member for planning and regulation, said: “Not only were the areas being occupied not suitable for living in without any basic facilities, but sites where stolen bikes and charity donations were discovered.
“This is a great example of the council teams working together with the police and outside agencies to quickly identify and resolve an issue.”
Cyclists are also reminded to get their bicycles security marked and registered so if their property is stolen police will be able to reunite them with their rightful owners.
The site was cleared on 4 August.
The bicycles were discovered alongside tents, rubbish and charity donations in the underpass of the A322 at Royal Windsor Way, near the Jubilee River.
Three people were also found living in the encampment, which included a makeshift property, complete with windows, with no toilet facilities, electricity or running water.
The encampment was discovered as part of a proactive campaign between the council and Thames Valley Police to stymie the trade in stolen bikes. The site was discovered after a visit by the police, Eton College security and the council’s resilience and enforcement team officers.
The accommodation and waste was removed by the council’s environmental waste team which cleared the site and removed more than nine tonnes of rubbish. It included mattresses, drug paraphernalia, human faeces, out of date food and large quantities of clothes and children’s toys which appeared to have been taken from outside of charity shops or clothing banks.
Dozens of high-value bicycles, which were believed to have been stolen, were also found at the site as well as bicycle parts which were being used to make hybrid machines.
Thames Valley Police will now attempt to reunite the bikes with their rightful owners.
The people living at the site were given help and advice by the housing team at the council after the site was cleared.
Ian Blake, neighbourhood manager, resilience and enforcement, said: “Once we realised the scale of the encampment and what was happening there, we had to go in and remove it.
“There was so much waste there and the conditions were not hygienic to live in and was causing a nuisance.
He added a second separate site had been cleared just weeks before in Church Street, Slough, where bicycles were changing hands as well as items intended for charity shops and clothing bands.
He added: “It was clear to officers during these operations items generously donated to those in need were ending up being misused.
“Residents who want to donate to charity are asked not to leave any items on the doorsteps of shops and make sure they are placed correctly in clothing bins.”
Cllr Pavitar K. Mann, cabinet member for planning and regulation, said: “Not only were the areas being occupied not suitable for living in without any basic facilities, but sites where stolen bikes and charity donations were discovered.
“This is a great example of the council teams working together with the police and outside agencies to quickly identify and resolve an issue.”
Cyclists are also reminded to get their bicycles security marked and registered so if their property is stolen police will be able to reunite them with their rightful owners.
The site was cleared on 4 August.
