RESIDENTS are celebrating victory in their battle to have a say in where a controversial ‘homeless hub’ should be built.

More than 50 of them travelled from Chester to Winsford for last Thursday’s Cheshire West and Chester Council meeting to speak on plans to locate the hub in Richmond Court, on Boughton’s popular canalside.

Boughton councillor David Robinson (Lab) and city centre councillor and Labour deputy leader Sam Dixon raised a motion calling for ‘full and open consultation’ with the community on the proposal.

The residents, fresh from a meeting the previous night in Hoole Community Centre where more than 100 voiced their support for the motion, put forward objector Angela Chidley to speak for them.

She said: “There has been a complete lack of consultation with residents or even with the local ward councillor.

“We are, rightfully, concerned about the potential risks a shelter of this kind will bring in terms of the security and safety of all the residents who live in the surrounding area.

“We also extend our concerns to all users of the canal tow path and service users of the shelter. Richmond Court is next to a deep canal lock and is wholly unsuitable.”

She added there had been no replies from the successful bidders, Chester and District Housing Trust and Forum Housing, to the community’s concerns.

“We are fully prepared to take further action for as long as it takes,” she told the council, to loud and prolonged applause, including that of council chairman Pam Booher.

Ms Chidley called for the new homeless services to be moved to a more suitable location in the city centre.

Cllr Dixon argued the procurement process for the new service had meant that ‘everyone could be excluded’.

“Worst of all you excluded the residents. You have failed miserably again,” she told the Tory-controlled administration.

Council leader Mike Jones (Con) said the council had undertaken a detailed assessment of services for homeless people which had been ranked ‘poor’ by the Government.

That had involved a substantial amount of consultation.

As the council had to follow European law, it did not know where the service would be located until the preferred bidder had been identified.

“That is the point where you can have discussions,” he insisted.

“We are committed to listening to our residents.”

He supported the motion which was carried unanimously.