Planners approve “bedrooms for the homeless” scheme

PLANNING chiefs at Warrington have given the go-ahead for the controversial scheme to provide additional bedrooms for homeless people at the town’s Salvation Army Hostel.
Six additional rooms can be provided at James Lee House, in Brick Street, the borough’s development management committee decided.
A former chapel/meeting room will be adapted.
The scheme was opposed by nine people but three others  sent in letter supporting the project.
Twice before the committee has deferred consideration of the proposals on the grounds the rooms would be too small.
But on those occasions, the scheme was for eight additional bedrooms and the committee was told that by reducing the number to six, the rooms could be made larger.
The objectors also claimed there were an inadequate number of toilets, kitchen and disabled facilities, inadequate staffing and safeguarding and welfare issues.. But supporters of the scheme said the extra bedrooms would make a valuable contribution to meeting the needs of vulnerable people in the borough, with rooms that provided dignity and privacy.
Previously fears had been expressed that the new bedrooms would replace an existing hostel for the homeless – Room at the Inn – which is run by a charity but relies on a grant from the borough council.
After the meeting, chairman Cllr Tony McCarthy said: “We all hope that Room at the Inn will continue. But that is not a planning issue and the decision will be made elsewhere.”