Homeless man protests outside Welwyn Hatfield Council offices

Kieran Bagstaff, 32, began his protest outside the Welwyn Hatfield Council offices at 2pm, pitching his tent on a patch of grass directly outside the entrance to the building.

He was then told that the police had been called and to move on.

The dad-of-three told the Welwyn Hatfield Times that he had set up his tent in a bid to be taken “seriously” by the council.

Kieran, who suffers from depression, anxiety and borderline personality disorder, said: “I am protesting today because I am tired of being homeless and not being helped by the council.

Kieran Bagstaff with his test while protesting outside the Welwyn Hatfield Borough Council offices. Picture: WHTimes. (Image: Archant)

“They have put me in Band-D even though I have given them all of my medical history with my mental health.

“I’ve been fobbed off and told to private rent but the minute I tell landlords I’m on benefits they don’t want to know.

“I have tried everything, I really have.

“But what other option do I have?

“I needed to get them to listen to me.”

Kieran, who has lived in Welwyn Hatfield for 13 years, says he can not work because his anxiety is so extreme that when he has a panic attack while stressed he blacks out.

He ended his protest about 15 minutes into it after a member of the council’s housing team offered to speak to him inside the building.

Kieran, who has been sleeping on the streets of Welwyn Garden City since June, went inside the council offices and is currently waiting to see if anything can be done to get him off the streets.

A police spokeswoman said: “We were informed at 2.08pm today that a man has pitched a tent outside the Welwyn Hatfield council offices in Welwyn Garden City.

“Officers are not attending at this time.”