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| The property at the centre of the furore. Houses on this quiet Grimsby cul-de-sac typically sell for £350,000-plus |
RESIDENTS of an exclusive street in Grimsby have won their campaign to prevent a family house from being converted to a residential home for young people with mental health needs
Such was the clamour of opposition from neighbours that the owner of 11 Augusta Oaks decided not to proceed with the proposed sale of his property to the mental health organisation, Navigo.
As a result, the company had no option but to withdraw its planning application.
This will come as a bitter disappointment to Navigo whose proposal stated: "Nationally there is a shortage of foster care for children.
"Within North East Lincolnshire, the situation is dire.
"This is leading to many local children being put into placements elsewhere across the country, away from any family and friends.
"In addition to the distance issue, many of the placements are either in unsuitable and unregulated accommodation or in very expensive private homes, draining the funds available to the local authority to care for this very vulnerable group.
"It is proposed that the house will be used as a children’s home to support up to three of these currently out-of-area children, repatriating them to their local community.
"Ten similar properties are already embedded within the borough and, without prior knowledge, it would be difficult to distinguish these from normal family homes.
"Our home will be run in exactly the same way."
The statement continued: "The whole point of having children’s homes located within community settings is to create a ‘family ’ environment, the only difference being that the children are supported by qualified support workers rather than parents.
"Children living at the property may, from time to time, have some needs which must be addressed but mitigation would be in place through qualified, experienced staff who know how to handle any challenging behaviour.
"It is not anticipated that regular vehicular movements would be any more significant than the other houses within the cul-de-sac as most other houses in the street having at least two or more vehicles.
"Therefore, it is considered that this location is ideal for the proposed use, namely to provide the children with a home in a residential 'normal' environment to allow them every opportunity to integrate and flourish."
'Funny farm'
But objectors were having none of it, with a claim that the properties would become tricky to sell if located next to what one called a "funny farm".
He wrote: "My wife has experienced out-of-control patients roaming and terrorising Grimsby from one of these mental health facilities run by Navigo.
"She works in a shop and was attacked by a 15-year-old who was entirely out of control on drink and drugs.
"It resulted in her being knocked to the ground and suffering a black eye. She is terrified that this mental patient is going to live next door to us.
"Navigo, its staff, and its patients are not wanted in this area."
Other objectors applauded the work of Navigo but claimed Augusta Oaks, a quiet cul-de-sac, was an inappropriate location for this kind of initiative.
One said that the company should be as mindful of the mental wellbeing of existing residents as well as its own patients.
There was also opposition from some householders in Utterby Drive which backs on to the property.
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