Will be refurbished as eleven units for 'vulnerable young people '

Barrowgate Road

The plan by Hounslow Council for a home for single mothers and children in Barrowgate Road to be replaced with a facility for vulnerable young people looks likely to go ahead, despite local opposition.

The proposal, to convert the detached house into eleven units and transfer the young mothers and children to a facility at the other end of the borough, will come before the Planning Committee next Thursday (11 January). Council planning officials are recommeding that the plan be voted through by the Committee.

The property is beside the late comedian Tommy Cooper's former house which was last year awarded an English Heritage blue plaque.

A letter from Hounslow Council was sent out some months ago informing local people of the change. It led to what one local described as "a high level of concern" amid fears that it could mean the arrival of residents with drug or criminal convictions to a family neighbourhood. Hounslow Council has sought to reassure the concerns by saying there will be 24-hour supervision.

Some locals complained that Hounslow Council's letter was "evasive" and that they have not been consulted on the matter. One local said that they were told (on the phone) the young people would need a high level of support..

The house was sold several years ago to the Shepherd's Bush Housing Group, which also owns the St Margaret's facility for young people nearby on Sutton Court Road.

One local said: "I would rather see the single mums here than a mixed group- how do we know who will be living in the house or what sort of supervision there will be, when there are families living in this in area with young children?"

Hounslow Council has said there will be 24-hour supervision. The Council proposes making alterations to the ground floor of the house to provide eleven units for people aged from 16-25. The Look Ahead group has now been appointed to manage the new facility.

Hounslow Council say the change has come about as a result of a review of the provision of young people's services in the borough and that the facility at Barrowgate Road was not suitable for mothers and babies because the flats were too small. A similar change is proposed to another facility at Bath Road, Chiswick.

Look Ahead provide support to 1200 young people in 12 local authorities.

January 6, 2018