THE council is looking at potentially buying a former police training facility as it bids to end rough sleeping in the Taunton area. Somerset West and Taunton Council s scrutiny committee is today (Wednesday) set to discuss three options for the Canonsgrove site, in Staplehay. The site, which is owned by Bridgwater and Taunton College (BTC), is currently used to keep safe 54 people who had been sleeping rough before the Covid crisis. SWT has an agreement to lease the premises until October this year, after which the college is hoping to sell Canonsgrove or secure a long lease contract. Councillors will be presented with three options at the meeting - extending the current lease up until March 2023; buying Canonsgrove; or doing nothing.
PEOPLE leaving near a temporary homeless hostel during the Covid-19 crisis fear it could become a permanent refuge. They have voiced concerns to Somerset West and Taunton Council, which is considering whether Canonsgrove could become a permanent hostel. Trull Residents’ Group has recorded several incidents they say make the site inappropriate, including verbal abuse, trespassing, drugs, drunkenness, urinating in public, shouting at 3am, flouting Covid-19 measures, littering and obstructing the road. A statement from TRG says members have supported Canonsgrove’s use as “temporary emergency accommodation for homeless people” during the pandemic. It adds: “Despite strong evidence that the Canonsgrove model is not the best way of helping people out of homelessness, and the resulting crime/anti-social behaviour in the villages, SWT is now exploring expanding Canonsgrove as a sizeable permanent hub for homeless people across the district.