Residents and businesses in Atlantic Wharf and Butetown have told CJS News they are concerned by a Cardiff Council decision to house homeless people in a nearby hotel.
Earlier this month, the council confirmed it purchased a hotel with more than 150 rooms to provide temporary accommodation for people in need of housing.
It will become the fifth accommodation for homeless people within a one-mile radius.
A local resident, who wishes to remain anonymous, told CJS News that locals should have been consulted about the decision.
“That hotel has been used for refugees, for all sorts of things, and we’ve not had a problem with that. It’s a part of what we do, we’re a city of sanctuary,” they said. “That’s not the issue.”
“We just need to know that [Cardiff Council] thought it through and that we’re going to be safe in the process. Just give us the opportunity to find that out first.”
Nine thousand people are currently are on the waiting list for housing in Cardiff which has seen the local authority declare a “housing emergency”.
Under emergency planning laws to address the issue, the council can use the hotel to house homeless people for a year before applying for an official change of use.
Local shop worker Mohammad Karmagy is concerned that existing problems of anti-social behaviour and shoplifting in the area may get worse.
“We already have [a homeless shelter] at the end of the street. Sometimes they come into the shop and they steal things. It’s not safe.”
In a joint letter to the leader of Cardiff Council, councillors Margaret Lewis, Saeed Ebrahim and Helen Gunter – who together represent Butetown – said they had “deep concerns” about the situation.
“The number of hostels catering for those with complex needs already situated within this short distance presents substantial challenges and issues for residents and businesses,” they said.
“The addition of another such facility will exacerbate this, which is unacceptable and unfair on the local community.”
But Tan Ahmad, whose family shop has operated in the area for over forty years, disagrees.
“I can appreciate people being concerned about it, but as a business we haven’t really experienced any problems,” he said.
“You hear the stories of people stealing… there’s a misconception around that. People just associate stuff like that with homeless people. But you have to treat each person with respect.”
Cardiff Council said “Cardiff’s homelessness services are continuing to feel the pressure created by the unprecedented demand that has led to a housing emergency in the city.”
“The opening of this facility comes at a time when we expect an increase in demand for accommodation over the colder, winter months, and along with arrangements for extra emergency accommodation, it will provide much needed additional capacity while also reducing the reliance on hotel arrangements.”
“We continue to explore all options to increase the availability of accommodation as quickly as possible to help alleviate current pressures further, while our ambitious housing development program continues to deliver good quality, affordable housing over the longer term.”