Objections mount to Blackpool children's home plans

Petitions and objections have been submitted to the council opposing the use of four former family homes in the town to accommodate small numbers of children in care.

All four planning applications have been recommended for approval when they go before the council’s planning committee next Tuesday (August 4).

But residents fear the move to bring potentially troubled youngsters into residential areas will lead to disruption and anti-social behaviour, among other issues.

A total of 114 objections to proposals for a house on Freemantle Avenue in Squires Gate to be used to house two children have been received, and 71 people have signed a petition against use of a bungalow on Norbreck Road for two youngsters aged between eight and 17.

Proposals for one young person to be housed in Hodder Avenue have attracted a petition signed by 22 objectors, while two people have registered objections to a property in Lancaster Road, Marton, being used to house two children.

Opponents also object to houses being used for commercial means.

But council chiefs say they are tightening controls over children’s homes to ensure operators keep a lid on any potential disturbance.

Action is being taken following a surge in applications with a report saying “availability of relatively large properties at reasonably low prices is understood to be a key driver behind this trend.”

In recent times, 30 applications have been submitted to use addresses in the town to accommodate between one and six children in care.

Many have been granted certificates of lawfulness, meaning full planning permission is not required.

But town hall planners are set to adopt tougher controls so full planning permission will now be needed in most cases, giving the council more powers to regulate the homes.

This will include forcing operators to priorise local children in care instead of bringing vulnerable youngsters from other parts of the country into Blackpool, which puts further pressure on local services.

A report to the planning committee warns “vulnerable children with complex needs are brought into the borough placing additional strain on already pressurised local public services”.

Applicants will have to sign an agreement committing them to housing children from Blackpool Council’s own list of more than 500 children in care first, and to working with Blackpool’s Children’s Services department.

It is hoped this will put pressure on operators to run the homes properly.

A further report adds: “If any unacceptable issues arose relating to the behaviour of the child due to poor management of the premises, the council could withdraw the placement.

“There is therefore a very clear motivation for the operator to ensure that the use does not impact unacceptably upon nearby neighbours. ”