Temporary homeless shelter extended

The former mobile classroom has been converted into a dormitory for rough sleepers

A temporary winter homeless night shelter in Hereford is to stay in use for another five years.

The mobile building, on Symonds Street, opened in December 2023 as emergency winter accommodation for rough sleepers.

After "extensive use", Herefordshire Council applied for permission to extend its life until 2029.

The local authority's planning committee unanimously approved the plan on Wednesday, despite warnings a long-term, permanent shelter was needed.

Since December, the shelter has been run by the charity Caring for Communities and People (CCP) on the council’s behalf.

It is not open year-round and was due to close at the end of March, but was extended to June.

Going forward, the shelter will provide 16 beds for homeless people and at least two wardens will remain on site overnight.

"It’s not just getting your head down for the night," said Green Councillor Mark Woodall, who had previously been involved in homeless provision organised by local churches.

"A night shelter is invaluable for people - it provides bathrooms, it provides a kitchen, and it provides somewhere for them to get some advice and some help as well."

But he warned of the council becoming "complacent" by simply extending a temporary shelter for a further five years.

"We'll keep rolling over, and that mobile unit will keep falling apart."

Green councillor Mark Woodall said the night shelter offered more than just a space to sleep

Mr Woodall supported a suggestion from local resident Mark Lane for the night shelter's life to only be extended to 2026 as "a way of motivating the council to providing better provision in the city".

Mr Lane had written a letter of objection to the planning application. Citing instances of anti-social behaviour on Symonds Street, he had asked the council to properly assess the impact on residents.

First installed in 2010, the mobile classroom was repurposed as a homeless shelter

But the option of a shorter extension was rejected by Conservative councillor Richard Thomas.

"I think if we do that, it will just be brushed under the carpet. I can't see with the present council finances we are going to get a more permanent home," he said.

"We'd quite frankly dare not given permission on this, it would look very very bad."

The planning application was passed unanimously.