PRIMARY school parents have launched a petition to relocate a homeless hub that has brought anti-social behaviour to their door.

The Leader previously heard from Flintshire county councillor Helen Brown who was flooded with emails from concerned parents in Queensferry last week.

She explained how several parents who have children that attend Queensferry Primary School have been left feeling intimidated by the behaviour of some users of the neighbouring Queensferry Homeless Hub.

She told the Leader how the latest incident where a man was found asleep in the school playground sparked almost 30 individual complaints.

Cllr Brown has heard allegations of drugs packets being hidden in bushes and concerns after a pupil found a discarded needle in the playground.

The Aston ward councillor previously told the Leader: “I've been saying for months about the Homeless hub in Queensferry and raised concerns at council scrutiny meetings about what goes on and the safety of those who live, work and go to school next to this facility.

“Nobody should be faced with homelessness or be on the streets, and that I'm quite passionate about, but enough is enough. It’s clear to see that this shelter is in the wrong place.”

The homeless facility – based in the Glanrafon Centre – was opened up on a temporary basis in the wake of storms Ciara and Dennis in early February 2020 to avoid having people spend nights on the street in the cold, windy and wet conditions it brought.

It remains open almost a year on – and parents are anxious that the problems were no longer just an issue happening outside school gates.

Responding to initial concerns, Flintshire County Council [FCC] said that the Glanrafon Homeless Hub is “a critical part of Flintshire’s emergency homelessness response”.

Neal Cockerton, chief officer housing and assets at FCC, said: "The building was initially developed in early 2020 as a Night Shelter, the Homeless Hub now operates 24/7 in response to the COVID pandemic.

“The Hub currently offers accommodation and support to people who are homeless and may otherwise face street homelessness; the facility will remain at this site for the foreseeable future.

"Since the Hub was commissioned we no longer have people sleeping rough in our communities at this time.

“National homelessness charity The Wallich, manage the Hub for the Council and liaise with a wide range of other public services to ensure people accessing the Hub receive support that will help them to successfully move on from the Hub and exit homelessness.

“The Council and staff from The Wallich work closely with the School, local services and North Wales Police to respond to issues on the very rare occasions they occur.

“The Council does have a legal responsibility to provide help and support for people who, for many different reasons, find themselves homeless.

"In the longer term, we are seeking to provide appropriate support from within our communities to homeless people and are working with our partners to identify suitable accommodation and its availability in towns across the county."

Parents are campaigning for a more suitable location to move the homeless hub away from the school.

A petition has been launched urging the local council to do listen to their worries and take action.

To sign the petition, go to www.change.org/p/flintshire-county-council-relocate-the-homeless-shelter.