Council's asylum decision

Chichester Christian Care Association wants to convert a semi-detached house at 13 Fitzalan Road into accommodation for teenage asylum seekers who become the responsibility of West Sussex social services after arriving at Gatwick Airport.

But a group of Arun councillors who visited the premises recommended planning permission should be refused and last night that decision was expected to be confirmed by the development control committee.

The site inspection followed a meeting of the committee last month, when reservations about the project were voiced by councillors and residents, including the immediate next-door neighbour.

Although an Arun planning officer said the scheme should be approved, concern was expressed abut the suitability of setting up the home in a semi-detached house.

Littlehampton Town Council objected, claiming there would be a harmful impact on the neighbourhood and particularly on the immediate neighbours, with noise highlighted as the main problem.

Several letters of objection were also sent to Arun, raising concerns about noise from teenagers congregating outside the house, and warning that housing asylum seekers there could lead to racial

intolerance.

There were also two letters of support for the proposal, pointing out that Chichester Christian Care Association has run a similar project with great success at Chichester for the past three years.

The charity's general manager, Mike Jones, told last month's committee meeting that many of the teenagers arriving at Gatwick were highly traumatised, fleeing difficult situations in Africa and eastern Europe.

Some had parents who had been murdered by terrorists.

On average, the teenagers stayed from four to six months in the accommodation before being found more permanent housing, and they were found places at Chichester College, where they proved to be highly motivated students, keen to make something of their lives, said Mr Jones.

He added: "We desperately need these places for these people."

Planning officer Eve Hearsey's report on the proposal pointed out the property had previously been used as a rest home, the same planning category as that now proposed. The charity had stated that it would provide staff to supervise the property, with someone sleeping there overnight. The property would be soundproofed.

Committee member councillor Mark Butler, backing the call for a site visit, said he fully supported the charity's work, "but this is the wrong location".