Radford residents earn victory over bail hostel

People power has claimed a victory after a bail hostel was opened in a Coventry street.

The private firm behind the house for offenders who had been released from jail has agreed to close its doors next year.

The project, in Lanchester Road, Radford sparked outrage when it opened earlier this year.

Fears were raised after one resident posted flyers to houses in Lanchester Road, Grangemouth Road, Middlemarch Road and Cheveral Avenue warning about the facility.

A petition was started and letters were written to Coventry City Council and MP Geoffrey Robinson.

But operators Stoneham Bass has promised to close down the facility which housed a small number of released offenders by March next year.

Geofffrey Robinson, MP for Coventry North West, has been working with concerned residents along with Coun Mal Mutton (Lab, Radford).

Mr Robinson said: “This is all down to people power.

“This close-knit community has been working together and they’ve achieved what they set out to achieve.

“It’s quite obvious the authorities have taken in to account their views and made a U-turn which is most welcome.”

The resident sent a mailshot alleging that sex offenders could be put in the property.

This sparked a flood of letters and emails to Coventry City Council, Stoneham Bass and Mr Robinson

The Telegraph has no reason to believe sex offenders were ever housed at the address.

The Home Office is required to inform local authorities about a possible bail hostel address, which is then agreed in consultation with the council. Planning permission is not required for small bail homes.

Residents were concerned that property values would be affected and insisted it was inappropriate in an area made up of elderly people and young families.

Stoneham Bass insisted it was closing down the facility only after being told a serving police officer, a probation service worker and an employee at a local magistrates court custody suite all live nearby.

Residents also complained there is at least one more bail house within a one-mile radius and voiced concerns the area was being “swamped”.

Stoneham Bass has a government contract to provide accommodation for people on bail or under curfew, who have no other suitable address available to them.