A TENT village has been erected next to a main festival attraction as part of an ongoing campaign to protect the homeless against eviction.

Rough sleepers and squatters gathered together in Victoria Gardens next to The Ladyboys of Bangkok Brighton Fringe attraction to continue their campaign against enforcement of the city council’s Public Space Protection Orders.

The campaigners have lined the camp with banners stating their opposition to the legislation after they were evicted from a squat in a University of Brighton building in Circus Street, Brighton, on Tuesday, May 2.

One of the campaigners staying in the camp, who wished to remain anonymous, described the council’s enforcement of PSPOs as “discriminatory” saying that the council was “persecuting homeless people and rough sleepers”.

He said: “We intend to stay until the council has us removed and if that means taking us to court for an eviction notice, then that is what will have to happen, despite the money it would have to waste to do so.

“I was homeless for four and a half years and I have had very little help from the council over the years and this is just a continuation of that struggle.

“I want PSPOs totally removed. It has been overturned in other parts of the country and there is just absolutely no need for it.

“The council want to make a point about this law and are using the police to uphold it.

“We have support from organisations who help homeless people, local businesses and members of the public who stop by to wish us luck and sometimes offer us food and other supplies.

“PSPOs waste thousands of pounds of taxpayers’ money and it is just shocking to see that this city, once supportive of homeless people, is now so set against them.”

Members of the camp are expecting more campaigners to join them in Victoria Gardens, with many of those currently staying there having come from the nearby squat that was closed down and before that, their original camp next to St Peter’s Church.

A spokeswoman for The Ladyboys of Bangkok said: “They aren’t causing any problems for us, with no impact on our business. It is not our place to comment on their circumstances.”

The council has defended the powers, now being enforced at 12 sites around the city, saying the legislation is for the benefit of local residents. Victoria Gardens is not one of those sites.

A council spokesman said: “We are aware of the camp in Victoria Gardens and are looking to move the protestors on. If any of the protesters are experiencing homelessness we would advise them to phone our housing team on 01273 294400.”