THE Co-op building on Regent Road in the West End of Morecambe could become a hostel for young unemployed people. The Salvation Army Housing Association is looking for a suitable site to develop a hostel to house and train 25 unemployed people aged between 16-25. But residents have echoed the concerns of the resort's MP, Geraldine Smith, that the West End is in danger of being swamped by too many agencies.

The £750,000 scheme, to be called the Morecambe Foyer, will give accommodation, training and job search facilities to 25 young people. The SAHA, which is putting up most of the cash, has targeted the Co-op building as its favoured location claiming that it could incorporate a commercial use and also 'move on' housing units. Other areas which were looked at included properties on Clarendon Road, Euston Road and the coach depot.

A spokesman for the Salvation Army said: "I'm convinced that the Co-op building in Regent Road offers an excellent opportunity for the Foyer development, both in terms of location and the fact that commercial usage could be introduced."

While acknowledging the Foyer as a worthy scheme, resident Mick Wilson said that people in the West End were getting annoyed because the area is always the first to be targeted.

"It may be a good scheme but enough is enough. Another hostel will tip the balance and topple the area over the edge," said Mr Wilson. "Too many people with social problems are being concentrated in too small an area."

Independent councillor, Geoff Wilson, said: "There's a danger of the area becoming a ghetto. Local people are rightly getting annoyed."

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