Opinion
Featured in the bath Chronicle, October 2009:
Dear Editor,Homelessness and street drinking are both long-standing and difficult issues in Bath, and ones which local residents are acutely aware of. Finding a solution to these pressing problems is not an easy task, but is one which we cannot shy away from.
Last month, Bath and North East Somerset Council agreed to earmark up to £3 million for new homeless hostel facilities in Bath. Current hostel facilities in the city are increasingly inadequate, and embarking upon this ambitious project is a significant milestone in taking action to really address this issue.
This project will benefit not only those who will use the facility, but also the residents of Bath who witness homelessness and street drinking in the city centre every day.
After extensive investigations into possible locations for such a facility, the Council voted to agree, with cross-party support, that a site in James St West be the preferred location for the hostel. The site is in the centre of town where the problem is most apparent, and a preliminary assessment shows the building could adapt to meet the facility’s requirements.
We are currently at a very early stage in the process, and planning applications will need to be submitted. Local residents will be fully engaged, and the impact on neighbouring residents will be of paramount importance. The building itself is listed, and so any plans will have to abide by this and the historical integrity of the building will be maintained. But it is clear that there is strong support from homeless charities and Bath residents to see this project progress.
With regard to plans for a controlled ‘wet house’ facility to address the problem of street drinking, the Council is currently investigating setting up a pilot scheme to assess its effectiveness. No final decision has been taken on the location for such a pilot, but wherever the site, it would be carefully controlled and monitored by police and alcohol outreach workers. If this pilot were deemed a success, then a ‘wet house’ facility could possibly be included in the hostel programme.
This is an ambitious and challenging project, but a very important one. The scheme will make a real difference to the centre of Bath and allow the Police to take a tough line on street drinking, improving the area for both residents and visitors. It also has the potential to make a real difference to the lives of rough-sleepers and those with alcohol-related problems, helping them back into society.
The Council will continue to work with its partners to improve the lives of all residents, and will continue to seek broad support for this project.
Yours faithfully,
Cllr Vic Pritchard (Cons)