Deterioration and dirt in front of the Lecce train station. This is nothing new but now the complaint comes from Fabrizio Giordano, provincial secretary of Filt CGIL, who “experiences” the situation firsthand every day.
“The situation is highly compromised – complains the trade unionist from the transport sector – and a real health risk also persists”. The headquarters of the Filt Cgil union is located in Piazzale Oronzo Massari, right in front of the station entrance. A “privileged” observatory, if it can be defined as such, that of Giordano. Which he adds: «The homeless camp out around us and, not being able to use toilets, they inevitably use “open-air toilets”. Action should be taken as soon as possible.”
It should be added that the square of the Lecce station is currently the subject of redevelopment works with works now nearing completion to finally offer the people of Lecce, Salento and visitors a more accessible and welcoming area.
Mayor Carlo Salvemini recently visited the construction site among new benches and new trees. «The works are progressing, creating, we are aware, some inconvenience for those who live and frequent the station area – he admitted without hiding the temporary problems caused by the ongoing interventions – and for this reason we ask for a little more patience. Soon we will have an adequate and functional Piazza Massari for the new needs of citizens and tourists.” In the meantime, however, those like Giordano who live in the station area for work report the situation of degradation. «Paradoxically, the construction site area itself, with the work in progress and the fenced off area – continues the trade unionist – creates a further “separation”, a sort of protective barrier that isolates and further marginalizes the homeless people in the area».
In this framework and context, even simple daily actions such as, for example, the correct disposal of waste, sound like utopias.
«We are surrounded by rubbish of every type and nature», notes Giordano. Another theme is that of safety, which actually concerns the entire area. The secretary of Filt CGIL does not cause alarmism but specifies: «The homeless people we notice in these parts seem calm subjects but since they are still people bivouacking on the street, some of them certainly need psychological support. In similar situations, there will be no shortage of so-called “fragile” profiles. A citizen, a passer-by – concludes the trade unionist – never knows what might go through the minds of these people if they find them in front of them.”
