Town ‘used for dumping of homeless’

A Mid Wales town is being used as a “dumping ground” for the homeless, a county councillor has claimed. Councillor Gary Price spoke out yesterday.

He said plans to transform offices in Llandrindod Wells into a homeless shelter had sparked outrage from the community.

Mid Wales Housing Association (MWH) wants to turn office space in Gwynfa, Lant Avenue, into short-stay accommodation for the homeless.

At a Powys County Council planning meeting yesterday councillors deferred a decision in order to gather more evidence on how the shelter would be managed, if there was a need for the shelter and whether or not it would cause more fear or crime in the town.

Councillor Price said: “I’m sick of Llandrindod Wells being used as a dumping ground for the homeless and I think its about time that we said enough is enough.

“We already have a place in the town that houses the homeless, we don’t need another one.”

Councillor Ken Richards, mayor of Llandrindod Wells, said the proposal would affect the well-being of residents. “The majority of people who live in Lant Avenue are elderly and have learning difficulties and with two in three street lights being turned off from next month a lot of people will be too afraid to go out at night,” he said.

Jude Boutle, from MWH, said 24-hour on-site support would be provided but councillors questioned what that support actually meant.

Chris Bailey, council planning officer, said: “There will only be six beds provided and we as yet cannot say who will be staying there or where they will come from. As for crime, that happens everywhere.”