Exclusive:Sheffield park plagued by “daily fights, drug taking and crime” now avoided by locals
“I wouldn’t bring my children or family here”
A family park in Sheffield is overrun with “daily fights, drug taking and crime” because of a rough sleeping encampment, say business owners.
Ellesmere Green, at the junction of Burngreave Road, Gower Street and Ellesmere Road, is comprised of only a few benches and trees, but is one of the only seating areas and area of green space on the Burngreave high street.
But when The Star visited on May 20, a shelter made of mattresses and rugs dominated one corner of the green.
Barbecue ashes had been scattered across the entrances of a dozen rat holes, and a bottle of human waste hung by a cord from a tree.
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Shop owners say customers are avoiding their stores and are scared to even wait by the park’s bus stops because of rampant anti-social behaviour, drinking, drugs, and a growing rat problem.
“They need to do something,” said one shop owner, Ali Mohammed.
“People are shouting and fighting every day.
“Families and customers are scared to come through here, or wait at the bus stops.
“The park is meant to be a nice place where the whole community can come together, for women and children to sit.”
Business declining
Shop owners told The Star the encampment has been on the park for around nine months, but they say troubles began up to four years ago and business has declined over time.
They say the encampment encourages rough sleepers from the town centre to gather in the park at night, and claim they see drug use, fights, crime and arguments daily.
“It’s worse in the summertime,” said another shop owner, who asked not to be named.
“The other day, a man walked out of the park and down the street. He was completely naked.
“I wouldn’t bring my children or family here - to the park in front of my shop.
“There hasn’t been action in years. There was a meeting maybe two years ago with councillors and police but nothing’s changed.”
Another said: “I see foreign students and visitors to Burngreave getting harassed and bullied at the bus stop, or get their bags stolen.
“There is a lot of thievery and shoplifting.
“I’ve had people passed out in front of my shop.
“Shopowners get less business from women and children these days.”
A look inside the camp
The Star was invited to Ellesmere Green by ward councillor for Burngreave Mustafa Ahmed, for the Green Party, who was elected in May 2026.
During the visit, a man emerged from the shelter wearing a red Arabic thobe and pulled on a thick fleece. Inside his tent made of rugs, there were several pillows, a hookah and a large bag of coals. A kettle was heating on a smouldering portable barbecue.
Mr Ahmed and the man spoke in Arabic, and the rough sleeper allowed The Star to take a picture of his shelter, but not him.
He claimed he has dual citizenship with Canada and is waiting for his passport so he can leave the park.
When asked about anti-social behaviour in the area, he said he thinks he sees sex workers around the park at night.
When asked about fights on the park, he made no comment.
Councillor Ahmed said: “This camp has been here nine months and it’s caused a massive change in Burngreave.
“There are ashes everywhere from barbecues and the rats make customers not want to visit the restaurants near here.
“I want action to have the rough sleepers rehomed or moved on. I want the nearby pharmacies to no longer prescribe methadone. I want people not to give them money - they think they’re being kind but it does not help the problem.
“Ellesmere Green could have children’s play equipment and be a place for families and the elderly to sit and talk together and a place to have events.
“I want the police and local authorities, and the other ward councillors from Labour, to help me tackle this issue.”