Park drinking area plan scrapped

​Plans to use a shelter in Bath’s biggest park as a haven for street drinkers have been scrapped.

The abandonment of a three-month pilot scheme planned for Royal Victoria Park comes as the politician behind the idea decides to commission new research into the city’s street drinking problems.

Bath and North East Somerset Council was facing opposition to both the temporary project pencilled in for next summer and to plans for a new hostel with a drinking area attached in James Street West.

A petition signed by around 400 people was presented to a council meeting last week in protest at the £5 million hostel scheme.

A building used by the Genesis Trust homelessness charity is currently the preferred location for the facility which would replace the existing Julian House night shelter in Manvers Street.

But local residents and businesses are furious at the choice of the site, saying that putting a controlled drinking area or wet house at the scheme - aimed at vastly improving services for the homeless - would turn the clock back on years of progress in improving the look and image of nearby Kingsmead Square.

The driving force behind the idea, housing cabinet member Councillor Vic Pritchard (Con, Chew Valley South), has scrapped the trial wet house - where street drinkers would congregate and get help for their addiction - planned for an existing shelter within view of the world-famous Royal Crescent.

Mr Pritchard said he accepted the spot was “inappropriate” and would now be looking elsewhere for a site for a pilot study.

“I want to do a pilot exercise somewhere in the city centre but it was clear the park wasn’t going to be acceptable.”

At last week’s meeting, he announced he would be getting an independent assessment of how best to provide a drinking area.

In answer to a written question from Liberal Democrat Councillor Andy Furse, whose Kingsmead seat takes in the James Street West site and who had urged him to look elsewhere for a location, Mr Pritchard said: “Street drinking, and the associated anti-social behaviour that is attached to this activity, remains a serious issue of concern for many residents and visitors to Bath.

“To fully tackle this issue the council recognises that further work is required.  To that end I am currently examining the possibility of commissioning independent research into the issue.  This research will be used to inform our future options, both in the short term and the longer term.  

“As you will appreciate ruling out the possibility of a wet garden area in the proposed homeless hostel at James Street West before I have the results of this research would be inappropriate.”

Mr Furse accused the ruling Tory administration at the Guildhall of being unnecessarily secretive about the scheme.

“Nearly all the business owners and residents who came to speak (at the meeting) mentioned the lack of consultation and engagement from the council.”

Les Curle, manager of the Silcox, Son and Wicks furniture store in Kingsmead Square, handed over the petition.

He said the James Street West site was a “silly choice.”

“This is going to have a negative effect on everyone around here.  It has to be in an area where the impact on the local community is minimal and that is certainly not the case here.”

The wet house has also raised concerns from pub landlords.

Myles Gallagher of the Bath Pubwatch scheme which aims to promote a safe night-time culture said: "Bath Pubwatch is extremely concerned with the proposed wet house and night shelter on James Street West. Over the last number of years Pubwatch has worked with many local agencies such as Avon and Somerset Police, the B&NES anti-social behaviour team and street marshals to improve the environment in and around Kingsmead Square. We believe that all the improvements made to date will be put in jeopardy if this scheme goes ahead.

"Pubwatch works tirelessly to tackle alcohol-related disorder within the city, and to site a wet house in the middle of an area that has possibly the highest number of off-licensed premises in the city along with a large number of pubs and clubs seems frankly ill thought out."

The council looked at more than a dozen sites before choosing the Genesis building.

It has committed £3 million of its own money to the project but needs another £2 million from a development partner after the loss of £2.5 million of Government funding for the building earlier this year.

B&NES had been working with social landlord Somer on the scheme, and has mentioned the housing association as a potential funder since the loss of the Homes and Communities Agency money.

Somer says it is still interested but will have to take a fresh decision on whether to get involved again.

Director of business development Mike Grist said: “Somer Housing Group had been in discussions with the council about the concept of a scheme for homeless people somewhere within Bath and North East Somerset. However, we are no longer involved in the proposals as the opportunity for funding from the Homes and Communities Agency has passed.

“There is a need for improved services for homeless people, and as a social landlord, we want to get involved with and support projects which tackle homelessness. Regrettably, the original project we were going to be involved with has not come to fruition and we understand the council is putting together new proposals, which we will be very interested to consider when they are complete.”