Council defends work of homeless shelter amid claims parts of Deeside have become ‘no-go zone’

A Local authority has defended the work of a homeless shelter amid claims it’s turned parts of Deeside into a ‘no-go zone’. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

The Glanrafon Homelessness Hub was set up at a former day centre in Queensferry earlier this year to provide 24/7 support to rough sleepers. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

Flintshire Council said it had assisted 50 people experiencing homelessness since the coronavirus lockdown began in March in partnership with The Wallich charity. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

However, one community leader said those using the facility were “causing misery” for residents and shoppers in the area. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

Aston ward councillor Helen Brown also alleged drugs had been hidden in bushes close to the nearby Queensferry Primary School by some individuals who used the hub. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

Addressing members of a scrutiny committee at a virtual meeting yesterday (Wednesday 4 November), she said: “Whilst I understand why the night shelter is needed, there’s a growing number of concerns which I know many of the committee members will share with me. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

“It’s regarding the unit across the Glanrafon Night Shelter. What’s happening is people are out willy nilly causing misery and making parts of the Deeside strip a no-go zone. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

“They’re hiding drugs in the bushes and it’s right by a junior school.” ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

She added: “It’s all well us having a night shelter and absolutely no-one should be on the streets at all, but we need to know what services are being provided in there. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

“It’s absolutely disgusting what’s going on and you’ve only got to walk down Shotton High Street when they come out.” ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

Since the Covid-19 crisis began, the hub has increased its staffing levels to allow people to remain indoors day and night in line with Welsh Government guidance. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

It has also added seven self-contained cabins on the premises providing a safe place for people to self-isolate away from others if they develop symptoms. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

Those who stay there are offered an evening meal, breakfast, shower and laundry facilities, as well as specialist advice to help them turn their lives around. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

The council acknowledged there had been some issues with anti-social behaviour when it first opened, but said these had been addressed by working with police and the school. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

Martin Cooil, the authority’s housing and prevention service manager, also launched a staunch defence of the work carried out at the hub to members of the community, housing and assets scrutiny committee. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

He said: “We have a lot of work going on from that facility delivered by Wallich and other partners so people can get appropriate support. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

“We’ve been working with schools and local police to respond to issues as and when they occur. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

“Feedback has been positive in recent months with regards to some of the challenges that were faced earlier on. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

“I have slightly different outlook on that and perhaps that is a conversation we can continue to progress so I can offer you some reassurance about some of the good work that is going on.” ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

Liam Randall – Local Democracy Reporter (more here). ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

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