A COUNCILLOR has said rough sleepers and vulnerable people "deserve a home of their own" after plans were rejected to build a house on Culver Road.

The news comes after a proposal to build a 23-bedroom halfway house that would have seen 180 Culver Road knocked down and replaced with a new accommodation block was rejected.

A halfway house is a centre for rehabilitating former prisoners, psychiatric patients, or others unused to non-institutional life.

SEE MORE: Residents 'over the moon' after halfway house plans rejected

Kings Furlong residents gathered outside the Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council offices before the meeting on March 15 to encourage councillors to reject plans.

They had raised concerns about the drugs and violence the development could bring to the family housing area, the huge size of the building, and the anticipated drainage problems.

During a council meeting held last week Cllr Sam Jeans asked for an update.

She said: “In light of the news in Kings Furlong recently I would just like to address the cabinet member for homes and economy to update us on the progress to deliver a new facility to support rough sleepers and vulnerable residents in the borough."

Cllr Tristan Robinson responded to the question, as he gave councillors in the chamber an update.

He added: “Helping the most vulnerable residents in our borough is a key part of our administration and it will continue to be a key part of the administration.

“The social inclusion partnership has been recognised nationally for the work that they have done to reduce the number of rough sleepers in the borough down to zero in 2020.

“Developing an alternative to May Place House has been a key part of this work, the shortcomings of the building are stark. We know that May Place has shared bathrooms, one between five households, a sole industrial kitchen, a lack of security and separate division for different gender groups and a lack of any outside amenity space.”

READ MORE: Mayor of Basingstoke and Deane 'worried' that democracy is 'not working well' in the borough

He went on to say that they are “committed to developing an alternative.”

He added: “At the development control committee the alternative at 180 Culver Road was refused and I accept that it was refused."

Cllr Robinson did admit it was “disappointing” to hear some speeches from leaders of the oppositional party, which did not help “community cohesion in that area".

He said: “We need to understand that they deserve a place to call their own too.

"We are now looking into alternatives and other sites, including former care homes and shared housing."

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