Plans to convert a former B&B into housing for people needing support with mental health issues have been rejected due to fears over anti-social behaviour.

The Home Group had applied to Cornwall Council to turn the property, Tamarisk in Penmare Terrace, Hayle, into a house of multiple occupation (HMO).

It was planned to use the home to provide supported housing for people with mental health issues, which could also involve dependence on drugs and alcohol.

The plans had attracted objections from local councillors, residents and Hayle Town Council; all said that it was not the right location for such a facility.

However The Home Group said that there was a need for more supported housing in West Cornwall, saying there are currently just seven units in Penzance.

They said that this compared to other parts of Cornwall such as Restormel which has more than 50 units.

Anita Jackson, from The Home Group, said that the organisation was looking to provide the facility under a commission from Cornwall Council.

She said that the group had more than 40 years of experience in providing support for people with specialist and complex needs.

And she said that if approved the facility would have been used for people from West Cornwall who need support.

She said that the housing would be for people with complex needs with  a view to reintegrating them into the community. She said that they were likely to have mental health issues and that could also mean that they have had a dependency on drugs or alcohol.

READ NEXT:

Councillors heard that the facility would have been staffed 24 hours a day and that all residents would have to sign a contract about how they were expected to behave.

Anita said: “This is about providing a much needed service in West Cornwall for people from West Cornwall.”

Local resident Danny Johnson said that he thought the addition of such a facility could impact on the tourism sector in Hayle, saying that the town was second only to Newquay for the number of holiday lets in Cornwall.

He said that there were “already significant drug issues in Hayle” and claimed that the HMO would add to that. He said that a nearby skate park was “used for drugs” and claimed that there had been recent arrests linked with county lines.

Anne-Marie Rance from Hayle Town Council said that the council “strongly objects” to the plans.

She said that it would “seriously jeopardise” the tourism industry in the town and cost jobs.

She said: “This building is the wrong place to put such a facility.”

Local Cornwall councillor John Pollard said that the case for the change of use had not been made with the application.

He said: “The need for places cannot outweigh the negative impact that this particular location provides.”

And he added: “We are told by local police officers that they do not have the capability to cope with the addition of this facility.”

Committee member Sue Nicholas said that she had concerns about the plans.

She said: “I could understand it if was for someone with learning disabilities or someone with mental health issues, but there is a difference from those suffering mental health and alcohol issues.”

READ NEXT:

Hayle councillor Graham Coad said that he used to be a police officer in the town when there were 14 officers in the town but said there was now just one.

He said that local officers had raised concerns about the application but that there had been a letter of support from Devon and Cornwall Police.

“The chief inspector does not have the intimate knowledge about what it takes to police Hayle," said Cllr Coad.

And he added: “I objected to this not just on the grounds of lack of police officers but the risk to public safety through the people who could be housed at Tamarisk.”

Cllr Coad proposed that the application be refused on grounds of the risk to public safety.

He said: “I don’t think it is safe, it is dangerous for police officers, dangerous for residents of Tamarisk and dangerous for the people of Hayle.”

Cllr Mark Kaczmarek supported the proposal for refusal saying: “Yes this facility is needed but the question is, is it the right place?

“I don’t think it is the right place, the residents don’t think it is the right place and neither do local members.”

The application was refused with 12 votes in favour of this and one against.