Councillors have poured scorn on a plan to house vulnerable young people in an area suffering from high levels of crime.

Medway councillors voiced their concerns about a proposal by mhs homes to build a temporary accommodation unit for 16 to 25-year-olds in the Luton area of Chatham.

The housing association is due to open the scheme, known as a foyer project, for 30 youths - many of whom will have been in the care system - next year in Russell House, Russell Court.

However, councillors say they have grave concerns about those living there being swept into the crime issues which blight the area.

The plans were approved by the council's planning committee in 2019; the development will also provide an accredited learning centre for members of the community to use and office space for local organisations.

The £3 million plans were brought to a meeting of Medway Council's children and young people overview and scrutiny committee last night (Thursday) by ward councillor Simon Curry (Lab).

He said while he recognised how mhs had achieved good results with their two other Towns-based foyers, he was concerned about the suitability of the proposed location.

He said: "mhs has a duty of care for those young people in the community, and in this case, that duty is being subsumed in the interests of economic expediency, and that's a real shame."

Fellow ward representative Tristan Osborne (Lab) said: "The issue we have tonight as custodians of young people is, is it right to put looked-after children in a location which has a very high relative amount of crime, including drugs and other types of issues?

"We need to be asking ourselves as adults, would we put our children, or a single child, in that context?

"The answer I honestly say, as with all of us here tonight, we would not feel comfortable doing that."

Addressing councillors during the meeting, mhs chief executive Ashley Hook said: "There are currently 225 people in Medway needing this provision, and of all of these, 38 young people are high priority, and in imminent danger of harm."

He went on to say how residents had misconceptions about what was going to be delivered on the site, including concerns that it would house young offenders. He said this had led to a "degree of scaremongering, and a 'not in my backyard' concern".

He added: "There are a number of reasons which make Russell House a good location for a new foyer, and despite the negative comments that have been made about the neighbourhood, we actually see Luton as an area of many strengths, a strong vibrant community, and we want to work with local people and partners to invest in the area."

Councillors agreed to ask the appropriate authorities to carry out a full analysis and report concluding whether Russell House is an appropriate place for a foyer.

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