A SOFTLY softly approach has been taken over plans to house people who have had mental health problems.

Full consultation with local residents is planned over the possibility of building 12 flats in the former Albion builders yard in King Street, Leigh.

Grosvenor Housing, the Making Space charity and the local authority have identified the derelict site as possibly the place to house local people who have had mental problems.

But the consortium are taking no chances after people power scuppered similar development plans for Grasmere Street and a homeless housing project at Howe Bridge.

Grosvenor Housing, in partnership with the charity Making Space and the local authority, have identified the former Albion Builders Yard, next to the canal as a potential site.

Councillors for Leigh East, Leigh Central and Hope Carr say they are in favour of the plans in principle, since the flats would be for Leigh residents already living in the community but in unsatisfactory housing, or for people with a close Leigh connection.

The proposal is for 12 flats, one to house a resident caretaker, who would provide informal support.

But people living nearby will be fully consulted before any decision.

Representatives of the agencies involved will personally visit them to explain the scheme and answer questions.

Director of Housing, Peter Gee, said: "There is a real need for this type of accommodation across the borough.

"We understand any housing scheme of this type is invariably surrounded with public anxiety and unfounded fears about the nature of the potential tenants, which is why we are talking in detail to surrounding residents before any further action is taken.

"We shall be stressing that the scheme is intended to meet the needs of current Leigh residents or people who have been associated with the area.

"In the main they will be people already living in the local community who have suffered mental health problems and perhaps live in unsatisfactory housing, or need more housing support than they have at present.

"I hope residents will listen to the facts of the scheme before making any judgements.

"There is no way that we or our patients would contemplate housing anybody who would present a danger to the public."

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