Shape up or ship out

Radcliffe councillor Kevin Scarlett has told the management to shape up or ship out.

But they have accused Bury Council of being partly responsible for past problems.

Coun Scarlett, who is responsible for housing and social services, said: "I can speak for all of Radcliffe's councillors, as well as the majority of the people of Radcliffe, and say we have had enough.

"Not a week goes by without someone experiencing a problem with the hostel. Many people are frightened to walk past the building and are intimidated by the people living there. I have lost count of the number of times an actual or alleged crime has been committed by someone giving the hostel as their address."

But his criticism has infuriated Mr Chris Boyd, the manager of the hostel which provides accommodation for alcoholics, drug addicts and the homeless.

Councillors have recently held top level talks with the council to see what pressure can be put on the owners to improve. Coun Scarlett said: "Knowing the nature of the residents in the hostel they need a lot of care and support. Many require supervision. They are clearly not getting any of this."

He added: "If the owners wish to provide this type of facility they should act responsibly and undertake measures immediately to supervise and control residents."

The chairman of Radcliffe Area Board, Coun Barry Briggs, echoed Coun Scarlett's comments. He said: "The management of this building is undermining efforts to rejuvenate our town centre. A great deal of investment has taken place around Church Street and this is in danger of losing its impact due to the activities of residents in the hostel."

But Mr Boyd said: "Before I took over as manager in December there were problems, but since then we have arranged work for the residents within the hostel to keep them occupied and off the streets.

"We have also introduced a needle exchange scheme for the whole town and improved the advice and support offered."

He pointed out that Bury Council reduced housing benefit for residents last October.

"The benefit is the Trust's income and when it fell from £89 to £42 per person it meant it was difficult to pay bills and employ the necessary staff, in fact we had to lay off two members. We obviously struggled but the council have now agreed to return the benefit to what it was, so that will obviously help with the problems."

Landlord Mr Darryl Lindley said: "The hostel caters for people without anything and who have nowhere to go. It would appear that Coun Scarlett would prefer it if they were thrown in a dungeon and forgotten about. I challenge him, or any of the other councillors to come down and experience what it's like at the hostel. The head of Radcliffe Township police, Insp John Higson, was invited to visit the hostel this week and spent an hour there.

He said: "The management are doing a lot of very positive work down there and I can confirm that the number of reports concerning incidents in and around the hostel has reduced considerably over the past few months.

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