NEGOTIATIONS have begun to rid Radcliffe of a hostel for the homeless that has been the source of countless complaints.

Bury Council has entered into talks with Mr Darryl Lindley, the owner of Radcliffe Homeless Trust Hostel in Church Street.

It wants to acquire the property and get a written guarantee that Mr Lindley will not set up similar premises inside the borough.

Council leader Derek Boden said: "The hostel is incompatible with the town centre and has caused anxiety for some residents."

Earlier this year councillors held top level talks with the council to see what pressure could be put on Mr Lindley to improve the hostel, which provides accommodation for alcoholics, drug addicts and the homeless. Leading the criticisms was Coun Kevin Scarlett, who is responsible for housing and social services.

He said people had complained to him of being intimidated by the hostel's residents and he accused the hostel of failing to provide adequate supervision. He called for Mr Lindley to "shape up or ship out".

Speaking this week he was of the same opinion.

"There are still ongoing difficulties and incidents where crimes are committed and those committing them give the hostel as their address. It is still causing a lot of concern."

Reacting to the latest news, he said: "I am very pleased that the council is being so pro-active. I have been pushing for action to be taken with regards to the hostel for some time."

He added: "I am glad that the sale will only go ahead if the owner agrees not to set up elsewhere in the borough. It would be a nonsense to buy it only for Mr Lindley to open a new hostel round the corner."

But while Mr Lindley is happy to sell the building, he will only do so if the council pays up outstanding housing benefit which he claims the council owes the charity which runs the hostel.

He said: "I agree that this is the wrong place for a hostel, particularly if Bury wants to redevelop the area and improve it, but I don't want to leave the charity in the lurch.

"If the council won't pay it what it's owed, then I won't sell."

Discussions will continue but if the council is successful in buying the property there is a possibility that it will be demolished.

Coun Boden said: "We would have to examine what we would use the site for. It is quite close to the River Irwell. Not every town has a river running through it so perhaps something could be done to use the site to make more of an asset of the river."