Firms tell of staff 'fears' over homeless hostel

SEVERAL businesses close to the former Ibis Hotel in Cardiff said their staff no longer feel safe, after the local authority started using the building as a homeless hostel.

- SION BARRY Business editor [e-mail]

Several businesses close to the old ibis hotel on Tyndall Street in Cardiff have objected to council plans to continue to use it as a homeless hostel for the next three years

Cardiff council, which acquired the former hotel on Tyndall Street close to the city centre for £12.8m, used emergency planning legislation for the building to provide accommodation to homeless people.

It is now seeking retrospective planning consent to turn what was a 157-bedroom hotel into a 98-bedroom residency for homeless people for the next three years.

The former hotel has been used to provide temporary housing since the turn of this year, during which time nearby businesses said they have witnessed a rise in antisocial behaviour with one firm, TrakCel, warning that if the council grants consent, it could be forced to relocate out of Wales.

Law firm Geldards, which has its headquarters at the nearby Capital Quarter development, said the hostel's location was entirely inappropriate at the heart of what is a thriving business district for the city.

In lodging an objection, associate partner with the firm, Charles Felgate, claimed the change of use was enacted without prior consultation or planning consent.

"Overnight the Ibis hotel signs disappeared and significant antisocial behaviour problems began," he said. "These behaviours have had a significant negative detrimental impact on the neighbourhood.

"Our clients now gain a negative impression on visiting our offices. For a firm like Geldards, where client experience is a critical part of our service offering, the deterioration in the environment has impacted business confidence and our reputation.

"In addition, our fantastic staff, on whom our reputation rests, are scared. That is not unreasonable.

"We have monitored the situation closely and there has been a notable trend in both the volume and types of incidents since the hostel use commenced.