Campaigners will continue to fight to help end the need for people to sleep on the streets.

Bus Shelter Dorset, a project set up by Emily and Eddie McCarron, aims to transform the lives of the county’s homeless by offering them accommodation aboard a fully-equipped double-decker bus.

The couple recently applied for permission from Weymouth and Portland Borough Council (WPBC) to park the bus, once completed, at either the Pavilion car park or the Preston Road beach car park but it was refused.

Emily says she respects the council’s decision but will continue with the project.

“We are so grateful for the continued support in the local community,” said Emily.

“We respect WPBC’s decision and appreciate their concerns.

“We are currently working closely with statutory agencies to find a suitable location for the bus and will be working on a daily basis with the police when we open to limit anti-social behaviour.

“We will be working alongside existing services to support rough sleepers.”

Last week, WPBC said they had discussed the project with Emily and Eddie and had ‘carefully considered the proposal.’

They said while they accepted the good intentions of the project, they had ‘significant concerns,’ including the potential for antisocial behaviour around the site, the loss of vital car parking space for residents and visitors, setting a precedent for overnight sleeping in car parks and the potential for further rough sleepers to be attracted to the Weymouth area and for tented structures to develop around the project.

They added: “Rough sleepers and homeless people can already access multi-agency support services in the town.”

Emily and Eddie started the project in a bid to help end the need for people to sleep on the streets and were overwhelmed when donations poured in – including a bathroom and kitchen trailer and the bus itself.

The completed bus will include sleeping pods upstairs and downstairs for up to 20 people.

There will be an area for volunteers to sleep, a consultation area, kitchen, wood burner, seating area and toilets.

The bus will be powered by solar panels on the roof and there will be storage space. Each sleeping pod will have its own curtain for privacy and low voltage LED lighting and USB plug.

People will be offered the use of a PO BOX so that they are able to apply for work, register with GP and make benefit claims.

The trailer will park alongside the converted bus to provide kitchen and bathroom facilities for those sleeping on the bus.