Night shelter plan deferred again

A CONTROVERSIAL plan for a night shelter for homeless people near Warrington town centre has been deferred a second time.
Members of the borough council’s development control committee have put off a decision again to enable further talks to take place between planning officers and local residents.
Strong objections have been received from Warrington Town Centre Residents’ Association and Warrington Masonic Hall – and from borough councillor Pat Wright.
But the scheme is supported by the Citizen’s Advice Bureau, Golden Gates Housing and Holy Trinity Church – which owns the property.
The proposals would see the building – previously used as a church, a mail sorting office and an overflow magistrates court – taken over by local charity Opening Doors (North West) as a night shelter for the homeless, including drug and alcohol abusers.
It would provide 10-beds and there would be a “smoking shelter” outside.
The residents’ association says the change of use will result in increased “coming and going” affecting the feeling of safety for nearby residents. They fear issues with drugs, alcohol and criminal activity, late night noise and parking problems which they claim are already a “nightmare.”
The Masonic Hall complains that the development is inappropriate in the town’s Cultural Quarter. They fear on-street incidents of “violent assault.”
Planning officers say the development is acceptable, subject to conditions to exclude a proposed “soup hatch” and to include CCTV cameras.