'Locals in Scunthorpe will barricade themselves to gates in protest at homeless centre plan on former Scotter House site'
Residents have expressed serious concerns over plans to build a homeless centre on the former Scotter House site in Scunthorpe.
Work on the centre, on Dorchester Road, which closed last year, is expected to start in December.
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PETITION: Lennie Pearson, right, with residents of Porlock Court outside Scotter House, Scunthorpe
But residents have raised fears that the centre will lead to a surge in drink and alcohol- related problems in the area.
And now some are threatening to barricade themselves to the gates at the site in order to highlight their fears about the development.
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Lennie Pearson, a Westcliff resident, said: "We have been working around the estate to bring it up to what it is now and looking nice. This is just going to make things worse.
"We are not against anything that the company behind it is doing. It is just not the right location for this. A lot of the people on the petition have young children and said that they don't want it."
Pete Woodcock, chairman of the residents' association, said: "We have people who are prepared to barricade themselves to the gates.
"This is just going to bring back the trouble on the estate. We aren't going to let it stop here. We are going to make a noise."
Permission has been granted to demolish the former Scotter House respite care centre and replace it with 20 one-bedroom flats.
Resident Maxine Taylor said: "There are already enough drug and alcohol users on the estate."
Concerns have been raised at the level of consultation that took place prior to the application being passed. The application never came before the full planning committee.
Around 150 signatures have now been collected from people opposed to the plans.
The project will be run by Framework, a charity providing housing and support for homeless and vulnerable people.
Karl Jones, senior minister of Westcliffe Elim Community Church, said: "It is fantastic what Framework is doing, but common sense would suggest that people with an addiction are going to know others with the same problems.
"People could start congregating outside Scotter House and it could attract the wrong sort of people to the area."
Adam Jacobs, head of property development for Framework, said: "In my eyes there is no such thing as an ideal site, but I think this is a very good location.
"I will not say that there won't be people there with drug and alcohol issues. But we go through a careful and detailed risk assessment with every client and it is not in our interest to have people that don't pass that risk assessment."
A North Lincolnshire Council spokesman said: "No objections were made to this application when it went through the formal planning process.
"The application was widely publicised through the usual channels and was also a story on the front page of the Scunthorpe Telegraph."
Comments
by englander61
Monday, October 22 2012, 1:17PM
“The people in social housing eg NLH who where worrying about having to down size their social housing , Ideal opportunity to take in lodgers then they can keep their oversized property and help out society , Rather than adding to housing shortage by keeping needy people from obtaining social housing of the correct size for their needs .”
by mertheman
Thursday, October 18 2012, 8:11PM
“even the local councillors admit its in the wrong place, we are not against the project just the location. there are plenty of better locations in the town centre. we are not narrow minded bigots but Framework ( the charity who are building the centre ) admit there will be recovering alcoholics and recovering drug users using the building and if you know Westcliff at all you will know that it is not the best area for a recovering drinker to try to abstain from drink. We support Framework and the work done for the homeless and believe me we know what sleeping rougth is like but we also symaphise with the elderly who wish a quiet safe life and not live next door to a hostel.”
by deanharrison
Thursday, October 18 2012, 12:54PM
“I dont have an issue with this being in a residential area at all; however my issue is that it is going to be next to a sheltered housing complex where people who live there already feel vulnerable. You should feel safe when living in sheltered accomadation, however whether the perception is correct or not about the residents who will be moving in next door without a shadow of doubt the residents in the sheltered housing will feel less safe.
Is this fair?”
by nick_nick_
Thursday, October 18 2012, 12:52PM
“or...we could put them in the spare bedrooms of the mp's houses.....”
by TimothyIngbit
Thursday, October 18 2012, 12:40PM
“What is wrong with being a NIMBY? I would not like to live next to 20 imbecile containers either, any more than I would want to live next to an incinerator, a landfill site or a socialist.
That is why we go out of our way to buy a house in the best areas we can afford. Being a NIMBY simply means you value your quality of life.”
by dellboy1959
Thursday, October 18 2012, 11:18AM
“Why do people always associate the homeless with drugs and alcohol ?
I've come across lots of people sleeping on the streets whilst doing early hrs deliveries and they are decent human beings that have just fallen on hard times.
Let them chain themselves to the gates if that's what they want,at least then they will have an idea of what sleeping roughs like.”
by nick_nick_
Thursday, October 18 2012, 11:08AM
“instead of building this in a residential area, why not build it near an industrial estate? this way the people staying there can walk to work and start earning money to support themselves.”
by Mozart
Thursday, October 18 2012, 11:01AM
“NIMBY's springs to mind!!”
by garybaldy72uk
Thursday, October 18 2012, 10:45AM
“So Homeless people aren't allowed somewhere safe to be rather than probably freezing to death on the streets?? I'd also like to point out to the Narrow Minded Bigots tthat NOT all homeless people are on Drink and Drugs. Some people who would need help from this centre are probably homeless because of a Lost Job or other circumstances.
Stop judging people!”