Concerns have been raised about conditions on a bus used by homeless people.

The converted vehicle, parked in Crown Quay Lane, Sittingbourne, can sleep up to seven people and has been in use since 2017 after Tony Cooper bought it in 2016.

Swale council, which is considering introducing its own night shelter, said it is worried about there not being toilets and the lack of any plans to make sure people are secure.

A spokesman said: “We have a number of concerns about the conditions people are staying in on the bus – there are no toilet facilities, we haven’t been able to get details of any safeguarding processes or management plans despite multiple attempts to engage with the owner and there have been reports of incidents taking place that are a cause for very real concern to us.

“The owner has been doing what he can, and his passion to help rough sleepers is something to be applauded and encouraged.”

“Unfortunately, it’s now got to the stage where we need him to work with us to help those using the bus to get the specialist support they need if they’re going to find long term solutions.”

The spokesman added: “We have recently brought in a specialist outreach worker from Porchlight to work with the most complex homeless cases – including two people in the last few days who had been on the bus – and we are drawing up plans to provide a night shelter for rough sleepers over the winter,” he added.

“These mean we are much better equipped to support people in getting off the streets, but we need the help and co-operation of people like the owner of this bus.”

It comes as councillors approved a new four-year housing, homelessness and rough sleeping strategy at a meeting last Wednesday.

It hopes to relieve the pressure of people moving from the London area, lack of genuinely affordable housing and pressure on services supporting people at risk of homelessness.

Meanwhile, Mr Cooper, 52, said he understood the authorities were planning to move the bus on. Double yellow lines have been painted in Crown Quay Lane and surround the vehicle.

He feared a court order was being drawn up to force a move, although neither Kent nor Swale councils said that was their intention.

'Fair enough the bus is looking a bit of a mess but it’s got to be in use, I don’t want it gone' - Tony Cooper

He added: “Fair enough the bus is looking a bit of a mess but it’s got to be in use, I don’t want it gone.

“It’s not my bus, it’s the community’s bus - I set it up and built it but it’s for the community.

“It’s not me that’s going to suffer, it’s the people that need it.”

Toilets had been provided but had been stolen, he said, and there was access to showers.

Mr Cooper’s wife, Debbie, also runs a series of kitchens to feed homeless people hot meals, held at St Michael’s Church, the Avenue Theatre and Phoenix House.

Sign up to KentOnline's WhatsApp service and find out how else to get your news here.

Read more: All the latest news from Sittingbourne.