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WANSTEAD: Hostel plan approved

11:19am Thursday 11th August 2011 in Your Local Areas

WANSTEAD: Hostel plan approved WANSTEAD: Hostel plan approved

A CONTROVERSIAL plan to open a homeless hostel near to primary schools has been approved.

Planning Committee chairman Cllr Michael Stark had the deciding vote after members were split on the proposal for the hostel in Cambridge Park, Wanstead, last night (August 10).

Cllr Stark today refused to explain his decision, despite 150 people registering their opposition to the plan.

The way now seems clear for developers, Fadipe, to house 23 homeless people aged between 17 and 65 in the property.

Residents feared the hostel would attract crime and anti-social behaviour.

It is close to St Joseph's Convent School for Girls in Cambridge Park, and Our Lady of Lourdes School in Chestnut Drive.

There are also two care homes for the elderly nearby.

Those living near the site of the proposed hostel said they were dismayed by the decision.

Mick Goodenodh, 63, of Chestnut Drive, said: “I think it’s irresponsible for the councillors to give this plan permission.

“There are very strong feelings about this in the area which have been ignored.”

And Martin Masterson, 57, of Highstone Avenue, also criticised the councillors who voted for the planning permission.

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He added: “I don’t think those who voted for this have taken local people’s views into account at all.

“We just have to hope that our fears are unfounded, but we will all be keeping a log of any problems we see.

“I think that’s all we can do now.”

Six members of the committee were present at the meeting.

Cllr Deakins, Cllr Sinclair, and Cllr Stark voted to grant the application.

Cllr Canal, Cllr Goody and Cllr Wilson voted to reject the application.

In a situation where the vote is tied the Chairman of the Committee has the deciding vote. The Chairman of the Committee is Cllr Stark.

Comments(18)

Ant hony says...
10:05am Sat 13 Aug 11

This is an appalling decision, due to the proximity of the site to schools, a nursing home and a quiet family neighbourhood. There are 170+ objections on Redbridge Council's website (seemingly ignored), yet the deciding vote was made by a Councillor of the Monkhams Ward. If ever there was a case of 'not in my backyard' - this is it. Why was the Chair of the meeting a representative of constituents in a different part of the borough? I suspect that this is not over yet.

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Mrichard69 says...
1:48pm Sun 14 Aug 11

It is very strange that Councilor Stark won't comment on the logic behind such a controversial decision. What could be behind that I wonder?

I was at the planning appeal meeting and it was a show trial farce. Is there some organised response to this outrage I can be a part of?

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FBE11 says...
10:47am Mon 15 Aug 11

Mrichard69 wrote:
It is very strange that Councilor Stark won't comment on the logic behind such a controversial decision. What could be behind that I wonder? I was at the planning appeal meeting and it was a show trial farce. Is there some organised response to this outrage I can be a part of?
I agree! I have contacted the wanstead Society and I think they will have a meeting this week to discuss. I have also contacted the Councillors (Nolan, Goody) about my wish to appeal. The more people stepping forward the better.

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Goodenough says...
7:20pm Mon 15 Aug 11

The many other local residents at the meeting left the meeting stunned and angry. After Canal, Goody and Wilson had all presented solid arguments against planning being granted, pretty much all that Deakins, Sinclair and Stark had to offer was that homeless people don't have cars so there won't be any problems with traffic. So much for accountablity and transparency.

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WalkerE11 says...
12:07pm Tue 16 Aug 11

FBE11 wrote:
Mrichard69 wrote: It is very strange that Councilor Stark won't comment on the logic behind such a controversial decision. What could be behind that I wonder? I was at the planning appeal meeting and it was a show trial farce. Is there some organised response to this outrage I can be a part of?
I agree! I have contacted the wanstead Society and I think they will have a meeting this week to discuss. I have also contacted the Councillors (Nolan, Goody) about my wish to appeal. The more people stepping forward the better.
Can anyone please advise who I can contact about a wish to appeal too? It seems very bizarre so many residents were against this application, yet it has been approved. I understand a place for the homeless to be able to eat and sleep is important, however I don't believe they are free to use therefore this will encourage begging on the streets of Wanstead, a once lovely area which is sadly going downhill! I did not find out in time about the hearing to attend but would like to get involved in an appeal now. Thanks

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mdj says...
11:26am Wed 17 Aug 11

Good people of Wanstead, where would you prefer that this facility was located?
In my residential area of Leyton/Leytonstone there are several large houses and small blocks of flats that house people in some transitional state, ex -homeless, recovering alcoholics, former offenders. In practice incidents that cause concern are few; you could have worse trouble from an inconsiderate home-owner, who has no warden on-site to moderate their behaviour, believe me!
It was saddening to see church representatives adding their voices in opposition; perhaps the pages in their Bible showing Luke Chap X were stuck together?

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Ant hony says...
11:24pm Wed 17 Aug 11

I'm going to write to Councilor Stark, copying in local press, interest groups, MPs and the Mayoral office to demand answers.
Why were 170+ objections from residents ignored?
Perhaps others can do the same?

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Ant hony says...
11:28pm Wed 17 Aug 11

Good citizen of Leyton/Leytonstone - it's quite simple - we would prefer a homeless hostel not to be located next to schools and care homes. I'm happy for you that incidents in your neighbourhood are few and far between. However my experience with hostels is that this is not an acceptable risk in the proposed location.

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mdj says...
11:57pm Wed 17 Aug 11

Do you have a preferred site, Ant hony? Is it closer to you or further away than the actual one - or possibly not in Wanstead at all?
What is the nature of the feared risk to care homes and schools? I know that child protection is a big issue in Catholic schools, but hadn't heard that homeless people were the source of concern.
I was really writing to put people's minds at rest, as far as possible: in a big city, our neighbours come in all shapes and sizes, after all, and it's not our immediate neighbours who are necessarily our biggest problem.

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Goodenough says...
9:23am Thu 18 Aug 11

I sincerely hope mdj is right. But, having been at the meeting, I think Ant Hony and MRichard are right to question the way this decision was made. I suggest any concerns are also copied to John Cryer, MP for Wanstead AND Leyton.
john.cryer.mp@parlia
ment.uk

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FBE11 says...
10:29am Thu 18 Aug 11

MDJ, To be honest, I would prefer if the Hostel is not literally on my doorstep or in Wanstead. My sister worked very close proximity to similar hostel and was unfortunate enough to constantly come across used needles, empty, broken bottles, and people hanging around begging - fact. I am not prepared to take the risk of having that on my doorstep live in hope that it "might not" happen.

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Ant hony says...
10:40am Thu 18 Aug 11

I would prefer a hostel to be located in the Wards of the Councillors who voted in favour. The decision is hypocritical as those in favour do not directly represent constituents in the affected area (ie it's not in their back yard). Concerns are regarding drug and alcohol abuse close to schools (a statistical likelihood close to a hostel).

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FBE11 says...
11:16am Thu 18 Aug 11

The Hostel is for 23 people, approved by 3 councillors (they don't live anywhere near the proposed site/Wanstead), objections and petitions signed by over 170 residents, groups.

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mdj says...
11:06am Fri 19 Aug 11

But FBE 11, whose doorstep would you prefer social problems to be on? Homelessness is a problem everywhere: is Wanstead to be exempt from having a small role to play in alleviating it?
It's the old question: who is my neighbour?

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FBE11 says...
11:30am Fri 19 Aug 11

To be honest, I, along with 170 other residents would prefer if it weren't on our doorstep. I'm happy that you are happy with Hostel being on your doorstep, that's your choice, it is my decision to object and protect the area I live in. I chose to live in Wanstead because its is save, quiet and family oriented. If I was happy to have a Homeless Hostel on my doorstep, I would have done that. Mdj, you have your opinion and I have mine. Mine and 170 other objection still stands as the final approval was cast by someone who doesn't live in the area. I doubt Cllr Stark would have approved this if the Hostel was planned for somewhere near Bancroft School.

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mdj says...
12:07pm Fri 19 Aug 11

'I'm happy that you are happy with Hostel being on your doorstep, that's your choice,..'
It's not my choice at all! It's simply a part of living in a society with all its variety for good and bad, rather than a would-be gated community. Perhaps if you engage with your new neighbours you will find that they are real people rather than Daily Mail bogeymen, with stories of their own, who become homeless for a whole host of causes not of their choosing. Some are problematical people, I freely grant, but even these may respond well to the realisation that their new neighbours are not resentful and prejudiced, but sympathetic and welcoming.

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FBE11 says...
1:01pm Fri 19 Aug 11

mdj, I appreciate your thoughtful and considerate comments and you are certainly very lucky with your nearby hostels where there's been few incidents that caused "concern". I, along with few of my neighbours are speaking from our own experiences with being close other homeless hostel have not been as positive as yours. With the long hours at work and often coming home late in the evening, should I encounter uncomfortable/threat
ening situations with my new neighbours, I will certainly try and be sympathetic and welcoming.

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Mrichard69 says...
2:39pm Sun 21 Aug 11

Did someone mention a gated community a few posts back? Now there's a thought!

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