Public hearing on plans to turn Old Colwyn property into complex for homeless and recovering drug addicts

A date has been set for a public hearing into controversial plans to turn a residential property into a supported living complex for homeless people.

Cardiff-based charity The Wallich wants to transform a property in Hesketh Road, Old Colwyn, into a house of multiple occupation for homeless people who may have a history of substance misuse and criminal records.

The charity says the project is for people who wish to remain abstinent from former substance misuse and argue that all referrals to the project would be made via Conwy Social Services and the Housing Department, and assessments would be made in full discussion with the Police, Probation and other statutory services where necessary.

But the plan – which has already been knocked back once by local planning chiefs – has generated considerable “resistance” from the community.

Mair Herbert, acting head of Ysgol Bryn Elian , said the school had “concerns regarding safety and the location of the project in relation to pupils at the school”.

In total 47 letters of objection have been received by the council from opponents to the plans.

A spokeswoman for the charity said: “This project has been designed in direct response to the social care needs of the local community.”

However Cllr Bob Squire argues that those who would be living in the property may not be from the local area.

“If they were our own, if they from the Colwyn Bay area, then I don’t think we’d have a problem with it.

“But as I understand it the occupants could be from anywhere in North Wales.

“Hearing that social services and the police will be involved doesn’t reassure me at all.

“Apparently the turnover is going to be every 12 months, so maybe one lot will be quite decent but then it will change the year after.

“The point is locating such a facility in a road full of elderly people just isn’t suitable, and developing a HMO in Colwyn Bay is something which totally contravenes our own planning policy, I hope the Welsh Government reject this appeal.”

A spokesperson from The Wallich last month told the Daily Post: “As this is subject to a planning appeal, it would be inappropriate to make any comment at this stage.

“We cannot issue any further comments until the outcome of the appeal is available.”

The public appeal hearing is taking place at the town hall in Colwyn Bay, on Wednesday, June 14, at 10am.

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