Protest against Denbigh homeless shelter

Jan 6 2009 By Justine Bailey

NEIGHBOURS in Denbigh have joined forces to try to block plans to house homeless youngsters in the town’s busiest street.

Vale Street Residents Association is attempting to thwart an application by the Cymdeithas Tai Clwyd charitable organisation and Denbighshire County Council, to turn the Llys Gwyn office buildings into supported housing accommodation.

A series of consultation meetings have taken place in which townsfolk complained about the project.

But the council has decided to go forward with the proposals anyway, says resident Helena Moore.

"Working with Tai Clwyd, the council wants to convert the building into a supported housing project comprising six units for young homeless people," said the 34-year-old.

"The Tai Clwyd staff working in that building will relocate to the old police house in Vale Street.

"All the consultation meetings have been very well attended by the residents of Vale Street and the surrounding areas and there has been a unified view that the council is trying to push this through as there is a grant available for its conversion and Tai Clwyd wants to retain the building but no longer find it useful as office premises."

According to the Care and Social Services Inspectorate for Wales website, there are 29 premises in Denbighshire that specifically cater for younger adults who require residential care. Of these, 11 are in Denbigh and eight are in Llandyrnog.

Miss Moore believes the reasoning behind the plans is being driven by the needs of Tai Clwyd and the council and not the people the development is aimed at.

"There is already a significant number of supported housing projects in Denbigh, and Rhyl suffers in the same way," said Miss Moore.

"We are all against the plan and feel Denbigh is once again being used as a dumping ground for a project that is unpalatable to the more ‘touristy’ areas such as Ruthin and Llangollen."

Vale of Clwyd MP Chris Ruane added: "Many people have huge concerns over the way consultation was carried out and this is their opportunity to ensure their opinions are taken on board."

Sally Ellis, Denbighshire’s corporate director for Social Services and Housing, said: "Denbighshire County Council in partnership with Tai Clwyd has taken over 12 months to consult with residents and elected members. We have mailed information to over 98 households and businesses in the immediate vicinity of the proposed project.

"People within the area do not deny there is a need for supported housing for young people. One action considered to balance the residents’ consultation meetings was to invite young people and supporters of the service along, however we were not prepared to put these people in such a compromising position to have to listen to some of the very negative and misguided comments made by some of the people who attended."

She added: "I am content there is a need for such a service in Denbigh."