Residents protest against plans for homeless hostel

Hundreds of people have protested against proposals to turn St George's Hall, in Elmfield Street, into 11 bedsits.

A planning application for the development has been submitted to Darlington Borough Council and will be considered next Wednesday.

Officials will recommend the scheme, which would be run by the 700 Club charity, is approved.

The Stonham housing organisation has drawn up the scheme, with the proposed bedsits to be made available to single, homeless people.

The majority would be young people, made homeless for the first time, who would be re-housed after a short time.

Residents would be referred to the hostel through social services and other agencies.

They would typically stay for less than six months and the centre would be managed round-the-clock.

Planning officers have received two protest petitions, containing 317 and 53 signatures respectively, and a further 26 letters.

Complaints include homeless people being placed next to a drugs clinic, a lack of consultation with local people and the proposed scheme adversely affecting regeneration work in Corporation Road.

Protestors also said the centre would be near an entrance to North Lodge Park, making parents and children wary of using it.

Many objectors also said they were disappointed to see the hall being lost to the community.

The Friends of North Lodge Park group said it believed there was a need for a community hall and money available for renovation.

A report to councillors says: "It is difficult to substantiate a claim that there is a continuing need for the hall, given that the hall has not been in use since 2001. Although the re-use of the building would not result in the direct loss of a community facility, the proposed use would, however, prevent the hall from being used for another community use in the foreseeable future.

"It could be considered, however, that the proposed use of the hall meets a recognised community need in itself."