Neighbours ’ anger after homeless pledge by Journal Reporter Katherine Lawley
Neighbours rejected an assurance at a public meeting that a homeless people’s night shelter would not be established in Christie-Miller Road.
The assurance was given by the Chairman of the Salisbury Trust for the homeless. The Rev Duncan Whyte said a former hostel for policewoman ‘Will not, repeat not’ become a night shelter.
But Reverend Whyte’s assurances, repeated several times, failed to calm an angry meeting at FishertonManorMiddle School on Monday. Only a few of the 130 people there said they were satisfied the building would be used as a warden-controlled assessment centre and hostel for about eight single homeless 18-40 year olds.
Most vowed to continue to fight the plans.
The row erupted last week when neighbours discovered Wiltshire Police Authority was selling the property, on the market since last summer to the trust for £143,000.
Rev Whyte said 14 landladies were taking homeless people as lodgers and three leased houses provided shelter for 15 more –all in ‘equally salubrious areas as Christie Miller Road’
He said 'We want it not as a night shelter, but accommodation similar to our other houses. No one is having any trouble with these houses’
‘We know we can make good use of this property and believe it will not present any danger at all or reduction in the value of your properties’
‘Before anyone comes near the place they will be assessed—we will never use it as a night shelter’
Trust accommodation officer Jackie Spencer Taylor admitted former prisoners might be housed there. But she added: ‘we’re not talking about Jack the Ripper….we would not let ion Sex offenders or violent offenders’
Rev Whyte said ‘We are trying to give them a chance---do you want to push them into the gutter?’
‘If there is any trouble we will take the appropriate action—let’s show some trust’
But Karen Black, who lives next to the ten-bedroom hostel, said residents didn’t know what to believe and would have no say once it was sold.
The trust said it would not tolerate drugs or alcohol . But, she asked, what would happen if they were brought into the hostel?
She added ‘Will these people be evicted onto our street?’
‘Our homes would be devalued by 15% and if there’s trouble they will be unsaleable—but we don’t want to move we were here first’
One woman said ‘Our society has done more for these people in the last 20 years and they kick us in the guts’
Another added ‘For your hostel to work you need the support of the community and you haven’t got it. Will you stop buying it?’
Reverend Whyte replied ‘We will not decline to purchase this property if it’s still on offer’
The Trust hoped to complete the deal in four-six weeks. Rev Whyte said the money would come from gifts, interest free loans and a mortgage.
This article appeared in The Salisbury Journal on 20th March 1997
As a result of the campaign by the residents the Wiltshire Police Authority withdrew the property from the market. It has since been developed as private houses.