Residents campaign against children's home plan

The plans would see the home used for children aged 11-18 with social, emotional, and behavioural needs

A group of residents have started a campaign against a council's plan to turn a property on their street into a children’s care home.

Permission was given in February for a four-bedroom house on York Avenue, Wolverhampton, to be converted into a facility for two children with carers by City of Wolverhampton Council.

But neighbours claimed it would increase antisocial behaviour in the area and 116 people have signed a petition opposing the plans.

The local authority said: "There will be no more noise, activity or traffic than would be expected to be generated by any ordinary family home."

The plans, submitted by the council's children’s services team, would see the house used as a family home environment for children aged between 11 and 18 with social, emotional, and behavioural needs.

Three members of staff would also be at the property and a registered manager would make visits to the home.

The children, due to their backgrounds, would receive high levels of one-to-one care which meant the running of the home would not be typical of normal family life, according to a council report detailing the decision to change the use of the home.

Friends would be permitted to visit but family visits would be arranged off site, it added.

Those living nearby claimed the move would create parking issues and bring more traffic to the area as well as attract “potential nuisance” to the neighbourhood.

Concerns 'brushed aside'

Elderly residents have expressed concerns and feel “anxious” about the development, campaigners said.

“We’re near a public highway and there have been quite a few accidents - with additional comings and going we feel it’s another public hazard," a campaigner and York Avenue resident, who did not want to be named, told the BBC.

As well as concerns about parking, traffic noise and anti-social behaviour, residents said they were angry about the local authority’s lack of communication with the community.

“The council has brushed aside our concerns, it’s like getting blood out of a stone," the campaigner added.

“We’ve been bullied into this, it’s like we’ve got to accept it and carry on.”

A meeting for the residents’ concerns to be heard by council officers has been scheduled for Monday at St Columba United Reform Church on Castlecroft Road.

'Misconceptions'

Councillor Jacqui Coogan, the council's cabinet member for children, young people and education, said: "We know that some local residents have raised concerns, and there may be some misconceptions about what a family home actually is.

"The two children or young people living in each home will be looked after by a small group of specially trained and qualified staff who will take on de facto parenting roles 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

"The children or young people themselves will be able to get involved in the local community, go to school, and lead safe, settled and normal lives."