A group of Chatham residents are voicing their concern about relocating the temporary emergency shelter from the Bradley Centre to the Chatham Banquet Hall.
The decision was made to lease the Merritt Avenue building by council earlier this week, but Barry Norton, who lives a few blocks from the hall, says they only had a few days’ notice before a decision was made.
“Over the course of that very short period of time, from Friday to Monday, myself and some other folks went around the neighbourhood to gauge concern or see if people share the concern and we had over 50 signatures by Monday,” Norton says. “The number one concern for me is the proximity to the schoolyard, it’s right across the street from an elementary school.”
Norton says the group of residents can appreciate the need for a shelter and the plight of those who use it, but the new location is unsuitable.
“A decision of this magnitude with the potential impacts that can come along with it. I mean, I’ve been reading the paper, going online. While I do appreciate and have compassion for the need, these (types of facilities) tend to have issues and have had issues in other communities, and we would like the opportunity to present our concerns and we were not given that opportunity.”
