A ‘Challenging Client Group’, Eh?

Lodge Group Care UK is renting a three-storey house in Bowfell Drive, Langdon Hills, to provide four rooms as “semi-independent accommodation” for girls who have come out of the care system.

It’s not gone down well with the neighbours.

A fifth room in the house would be used as an office for a carer, but it is not yet clear if this will be manned round the clock.

Even if it is, as Winston Smith’s blog shows, there’s precious little any staff can do to intervene when there’s trouble anyway…

Lisa Cutmore, 37, who will be next door to the house, said: “It’s the uncertainty.

“We are not snobs around here, but the main fear is if it brings antisocial behaviour.

“There is nothing to do round here. What will they do all day?”

Pretty much what they did to get themselves into care in the first place, I expect.

Residents have been told a warden will be on site 24-hours a day, but will not be responsible for behaviour off the premises.

In other words, the minute Carley or Shanice flounces out of the front door to meet one – or a group – of their Burberry-wearing sperm donors the staff can wash their hands.

Which is probably more than Carley or Shanice willl do…

Evidence for how this sort of establishment fits in can be found not too far away:

Meanwhile other residents are demanding action to stamp out antisocial behaviour allegedly stemming from a hostel in Vange.

Neighbours claim the Swan Foyer, run by Swan Housing, in South View Road, has been causing problems with yobbish behaviour, booze and drugs, since it opened two years ago.

Shocked, I am…

Charlotte Hayward, 30, of South View Road, said: “It attracts people who hang about outside.

“There are late-night parties and people hanging out of the windows. We were threatened by teenagers when we complained.”

She said complaints had been made to Swan and Essex Police, but nothing was done.

Well, Essex Police are too busy with all those commercial drivers smoking or fathers trying to find out how their sons died, I expect.

A spokesman for Swan Housing Association said: “We provide much-needed, supported accommodation to young people aged 16 to 24 who are often in a vulnerable position.

“This can be a challenging client group and issues do arise from time to time.

“The Foyer is staffed around the clock and, in addition, as part of our efforts to engage with residents, we provide contact details to local people so specific concerns can be raised with Swan directly.

“The majority of young people we work with eventually move on, maintain a tenancy and live independent lives.”

Chaotic, possibly short and brutish, but hey, they’re independent!