Protest bid to halt controversial new homes plan

Developer The Heaton Group wants to bulldoze St Peter’s Church and vicarage in Bryn and replace it with 28 one-bedroom apartments.

But residents said the Bryn Road site would be no such thing and would be utlised as a “halfway house” for drug users.

A spokesman for residents opposed to the development said it would be used as a second stage centre for drug users .

They said: “Studio KMA stated that this development is for individuals and families who are affected by homelesness, but our local councillor has found out that this is not the case.

“It is to be used as a second stage centre for the drug users who are currently housed within hotels in Wigan.

“These centres already have issues with overdosing and violence, ie stabbings, so why is it fair to inflict this on the people of Bryn and Ashton? We have young families, the elderly, schools, businesses and clubs all on the doorstep of this facility.

“What benefit is there to the community?”

As well as this, the spokesman said Bryn and Ashton have no police station or visible police presence and questioned how the areas can cope with an upsurge in anti-social behaviour.

They said: “The people housed here will have complex issues that require close monitoring and care.

“The company that will be running the development has stated that it isn’t manned 24/7 but monitored 24/7. What good is that?

“The site also places a lot of temptation for easy crime, due to the close proximity of small businesses and residential estates.

“They also say drugs aren’t allowed in the centre, but they don’t have to walk far to induldge in this activity in a quiet area (Bryn Rec).”

The spokesman said the group would prefer a development such as affordable housing for young people or a scheme such as that at Ullswater Road, Golborne, which has 12 apartments for adults with autism and or learning disabilities and 19 bungalows for a mixture of families and individuals.

They said: “People may think that we are NIMBYs, but we are not.

“We want the land to be used to aid in lifting this area and what better way than to create affordable housing for families.

“Bryn has a strong community and our local councillor does care, he works with the homeless and understands that they have needs that have to be facilitated.

“But Bryn doesn’t have the infrastructure to support this.”

However, developer The Heaton Group said the homes would provide temporary supported accommodation to support people and families who are hit by homelessness.

They said that a management team will provide a 24-hour response, seven days a week, to support residents to move on within the scheme and towards a future of independent living.

But residents will make their objections to the development clear on Sunday when they hold a protest outside the church.

A petition they have set up has garnered more than 1,500 signatures, underlining the strength of feeling against the plans.

The protest takes place from noon.