Complaints spark housing review

Residents claim their lives are disrupted by anti-social behaviour

A scheme to house homeless people, including former alcoholics and drug addicts will be reviewed, a Cornish council has said.

It follows complaints from Penzance residents who claim their lives are disrupted by anti-social behaviour.

Penwith District Council bought 19 houses across the town to give "vulnerable" people a home.

Officers admitted at an angry meeting of 200 residents that they should have been consulted first.

The project is being led by Penwith district council and managed by a private company, PAS.

In theory the houses are meant to be drink and drug free, it's clear this has not always been the case Alan Hampshire, Penwith council

Some residents living near the project houses claim they have found beer cans, needles, syringes and empty bottles of methodone lying in the street and in nearby gardens.

They also said there has been an increase in police activity since the properties became homes of multiple occupation.

Householder Keith Richards said after Tuesday night's meeting: "We've had nothing but problems and they [the council] haven't answered any questions.

"All they've done is talk about legislation and nothing human."

Number reduction

Alan Hampshire, Penwith council's head of housing, health and community safety, said: "In theory the houses are meant to be drink and drug free.

"It is quite clear from some of the reaction we've had from residents that this has not always been the case.

"We've got to make sure that the management of the properties is as tight as it can be."

The team reviewing the scheme will look at reducing the number of project houses in Lannoweth Road, where there are currently three, and moving some clients out of shared housing and into smaller flats.