A long-awaited housing scheme for homeless women, including young mothers, could finally become a reality, writes David Horne.

The proposal, put forward by Beacon Housing Association, would involve converting two empty shops in Witney High Street to five flats.

Beacon has successfully applied for £330,000 worth of housing corporation funds from the Government. It is now asking West Oxfordshire District Council, the local housing authority, to find the balance of £55,000 and to grant planning permission for the scheme, at the former Windrush Antiques and IMC Communications stores. For ten years Witney has had a special hostel for single homeless men, run in Corn Street by Stonham Housing Association.

But there has never been a similar scheme for women. Invariably they have had to end up in bed-and-breakfast accommodation, and since the closure and change of ownership of The Fleece Hotel, in Church Green, the only option has been Oxford.

Trudy Johnson, health visitor at Cogges surgery, said: "Often these young mums have babies and have been living in overcrowded houses with their own families.

"When they are 'thrown out' there is nowhere for them in Witney. It is a dire situation. These young mums are being sent off to Oxford." She added it was important the flats should be for Witney women only."

Cllr Ted Cooper, who helped pioneer the Corn Street hostel, said: "This sounds ideal. There would be no problem with neighbours and it is sufficiently close to the town centre."

Story date: Wednesday 22 March

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