“The people of Llandrindod Wells are sick and tired of our town becoming a dumping ground, so please no more,” a county councillor pleaded as he urged planners to turn down a proposal for homeless accommodation.
The plan to turn former Powys County Council offices at Gwynfa into homeless accommodation was deferred at a meeting on Tuesday.
Members of Powys County Council’s planning committee called for more evidence to be gathered on the perceived fear of crime, the need for such accommodation in the town and details of the proposed management of the home, before they make a decision on the controversial plan.
Around 40 residents packed into the chamber at County Hall to hear the debate and they applauded various speakers who voiced their concerns.
Planning officer Chris Bailey told members that more than 45 letters had been received against the proposal, and Llandrindod Wells Town Council had also objected.
He said the application was to change the use of the building from offices to provide short-term housing for homeless people. The project would be a collaboration between Mid Wales Housing Association and the county council’s housing section.
Mr Bailey said such a use would be more in keeping with the residential environment of the surrounding area than its previous use as a council office and it would only be small-scale with six bedrooms.
Local member county councillor Gary Price said there was already accommodation for homeless people at Fairview and he had been contacted several times about loutish behaviour there.
He said people with no local connections to the area were brought there and then given free rein to do exactly what they liked.
“You would be giving the town of Llandrindod Wells another potential problem when resources are needed to deal with the problems we have already,” he said.
“The people of Llandrindod Wells are sick and tired of our town becoming a dumping ground, so please, no more.”
Harold Nicholls, speaking on behalf of local residents, said there was no need for a hostel in Lant Avenue, and there were no local homeless people in the town because there were numerous rented properties available.
“If there is no local need people from big cities will be brought in to fill the places at Gwynfa, drug addicts and alcoholics. There are over 100 elderly people living in accommodation in the area around Gwynfa and their safety and peace of mind must be paramount and the safety of children attending Trefonnen School must also be considered.”
Llandrindod Wells Mayor Councillor Ken Richards said the town council had objected to the plans on the grounds that it would adversely affect the well-being of local residents and would detract from the quality of life for existing residents.
But Jude Boutle of Mid Wales Housing said the accommodation would be for a maximum of six people and it would not be in addition to Fairview as homeless people there would be moved to Gwynfa.
She maintained that most of the people at the new hostel would have local connections, adding that there would be 24-hour on-site supervision.
Members agreed to defer a decision on the application to gather evidence on the fear of crime, the need for the hostel and details of the residents’ supervision.
Report by Karen Evans
