Concerns over sheltered housing

Concerns have been raised over a plan to convert a former care home into sheltered housing with families saying they are often scared to leave the house because of drunken abuse and drug taking.

New plans would see the former Pals Residential Home in Ombersley Road converted into a house of multiple occupation (HMO).

The building has been used to house several of the city’s rough sleepers during the coronavirus pandemic and residents say they are living in fear having been plagued by anti-social behaviour, drunken abuse and drug dealing near their homes.

More than 60 objections have been raised against the plan by neighbours in and around Ombersley Road with many drawing attention to the constant issues they have faced in the last year.

Dozens of objectors say the area around the former care home has become rife with anti-social behaviour including loitering, swearing and shouting, as well as drug dealing and taking, begging, fighting and littering.

One resident in Ombersley Road said: “I am very worried to hear about this. I strongly object to this due to the safety of my children and the other children in this area.

“This means we would not be able to live our lives as we should in our own homes we’ll be living in fear and that is not fair.”

Neighbours have also faced abuse from residents and had objects thrown at them when walking past the building as well as witnessing residents urinating in doorways and kicking front doors during last year’s weekly ‘Clap for Carers’ tributes.

Visits from police and the ambulance service have become a daily occurrence and sometimes happen several times a day, residents said.

The former care home closed in 2017 following a critical inspection by the Care Quality Commission after which it was a handed a ‘requires improvement’ rating overall.

Management at the home were also criticised and were told by the care watchdog they were inadequate.

The building in Ombersley Road is not far from probation hostel Braley House.

The former care home has been used to house the city’s rough sleepers since the start of the first national lockdown at the end of March last year after councils were ordered by the government to find shelter for all homeless people.

Another resident in Chacewater Crescent said: “I object to the proposal for a number of reasons, including increased noise disturbance, increased anti-social behaviour, increased police and ambulance presence on an already busy and congested road making it unsafe for drivers and pedestrians.

“This area is also very close to primary schools and the park, and many children will be walking unaccompanied to and from nearby secondary schools.

“The issues highlighted above make it less safe for them to do so as they will potentially subjected to anti-social behaviour and intimidation from residents.

One resident in Ombersley Road said: “Last year when [the building] started to be used as an HMO there was a huge increase in anti-social behaviour – including drunken, aggressive tenants in the area, particularly the local Co-op and outside Pals itself, plus more visits from the ambulances and the police.

“Given the near proximity of Braley House, the residents of this part of Ombersley Road really do not need more anti-social behaviour and visits from the emergency services.

“If Pals becomes an HMO permanently the management of the tenants needs to be significantly better than we saw in 2020, for the sake of the families who live in the area.”