Residents and business owners are becoming increasingly concerned over rough sleeping in the city centre after more planters have been installed.
The latest planter installation in Wheeler Gate, which will now be the third in the last few weeks, has been placed in the doorway to the former Treat Kitchen sweet shop.
Previously, planters had been installed in Lower Parliament Street to encourage a "vulnerable" homeless man to seek help, and two more were placed in Wheeler Gate to stop people "misusing the space", Nottingham City Council said.
The reason for the increased use of planters, the council said, was because of complaints from residents and businesses about people using doorways "as a toilet" and leaving behind "drug-related detritus".
It said it was simply a "temporary" part of efforts to help tackle some of the more extreme issues the city faces with homelessness and drug and substance abuse.
Andrew Kemp, a market vendor in Lister Gate, said he has seen a change in the number and behaviour of rough sleepers after working six days a week in the same area for many years.
"When you are here six days a week, 52 weeks a year, you see everything," the 59-year-old said.
"About four years ago we had a chap from Manchester who we helped. He never begged or anything. Most people who used to come here for a drink, their manners were impeccable.
"This chap came back here around a year ago for a spud. He lives in Lincoln now and he's got a job. It shows there is light at the end of the tunnel.
"But we've had people now, six or seven of them, all look like they're on drugs. The police came down yesterday and moved them. There was such a mess left afterwards.
"There seem to be a lot more young girls on the streets now. I think it's because a lot of the shops are empty, there are a lot of doorways for shelter.
"I don't think the planters work, as with the one's up the road, they've just moved them out of the way."
Lynne Jones, 60, and Terry Hallam, 66, of Old Basford, said they had seen an "increase" in the number of rough sleepers, particularly in Clumber Street.
Ms Jones said: "We don't too often come in to town, but we have been seeing it more and more often, especially down Clumber Street.
Mr Hallam added: "They say a lot of people are just two pay cheques away from becoming homeless. It's not good. It does seem that there are a lot more people homeless in this area of the city."
COUNCILS AND POLITICS
A Big Issue official vendor, who asked to remain anonymous, said he was homeless for three years before eventually landing a one bedroom flat in St Ann's.
He said whilst the number of rough sleepers in the city centre was high, he claimed those found on "mamba or spice" have been decreasing.
The 56-year-old, who grew up in Dundee, said: "It was awful living on the streets. I lost my son when he was just a baby. I ended up on heroin after he died.
"I ended up in a Christian rehab centre in Birmingham before a mate of mine who was moved to Nottingham told me to come here.
"I was a self employed gardener before. Living on the streets was awful. You get so much abuse and no one knows the story behind why you are there.
"Big Issue saved my life. Anyone can go to them and I think more people should. It's a good job. I get out and I talk to people and I get by with this and the dole.
"I feel like more people today lack will power. Some just don't want the help, even though there are options for them."
Portfolio holder for community protection at Nottingham City Council, Councillor Toby Neal, said: “We are receiving an increasing number of complaints from businesses and residents about people obstructing doorways, often having used them as a toilet and leaving behind drug-related detritus.
“It remains the case that nobody needs to sleep rough in Nottingham, everyone is seen every day, by both Framework and council staff, and all are offered help with drug and alcohol dependency and health problems, as well as sustainable accommodation. Some refuse all offers of accommodation - even though beds have been held for them.
“The use of planters is a small, temporary part of our efforts, aimed at tackling some of the more extreme issues that sadly we now face. We are working with the BID and property owners to look at more effective ways of protecting premises and addressing the potential health risks to others in the city centre.”
A Framework spokesman added: "We know that, for a variety of reasons, people do often sleep rough in these prominent city centre locations.
"For that reason our street outreach team makes a point of checking them regularly to establish who is sleeping there and what help they need to get off the streets.
"People can help us in this work by telling us when they see people sleeping rough. We can be contacted by calling 0800 066 5356, by texting SOT to 80800, or by visiting streetlink.org.uk."
