Plans for West End Park homeless hub scrapped after public backlash

Tameside Council has ruled out plans to use a disused building in West End Park, Ashton-under-Lyne, as a temporary shelter for rough sleepers this winter, following a wave of public concern and vocal opposition from residents.

The proposal, which surfaced earlier this week, would have seen the park’s former pavilion used under the council’s Severe Weather Emergency Protocol (SWEP) - a legal duty requiring local authorities to provide emergency accommodation when temperatures drop to zero degrees or below for several consecutive nights.

However, after strong objections from residents and local councillors, the council has confirmed that West End Park will no longer be considered as one of the potential SWEP sites.

Deputy Leader of Tameside Council and Executive Member for Growth, Housing and Homelessness, Cllr Andrew McLaren, said the authority had listened to local feedback before making the decision.

“Following our consultation with St Peter’s ward councillors, residents and local stakeholders, I have decided to rule out the pavilion in West End Park as one of our potential options,” he said.

“We are committed to working with our communities, faith and volunteer groups to deliver a collective response to homelessness, and to make it rare, brief and non-recurrent.”

The controversy began when Independent St Peter’s councillor Kaleel Khan raised the issue publicly, claiming Labour councillors were “pushing ahead” with plans to open a homeless winter hub at the park.

While Cllr Khan stressed, he was not opposed to supporting homeless people, he argued that West End Park was the wrong location, calling it “a beautiful, peaceful park where families walk and children play.”

His post sparked a heated local debate online, with many residents voicing fears about safety, anti-social behaviour and the loss of community space. Dozens of comments echoed similar concerns, urging the council to consult residents properly before proceeding.

The leadership team at St Peter’s Church, located next to the park, also criticised the proposal, saying they were “shocked and saddened” by the idea.

Not everyone opposed the plan, however. Some residents noted that SWEP accommodation operates only on the coldest nights of the year, typically around ten nights annually, and is open only from 8pm to 8am.

But amid the growing backlash, the council has now performed a U-turn, confirming that the West End Park pavilion will not be used for this purpose.

Cllr Khan welcomed the announcement on Friday 24 October.

Tameside Council will continue to identify alternative sites for its winter emergency provision ahead of the colder months.

Residents are invited to share their views at the next Tameside Homelessness Forum, which takes place at 2.30pm on Tuesday 29 October at Dukinfield Town Hall.

Tameside Council Deputy Leader and Executive Member for Growth, Housing and Homelessness Cllr Andrew McLaren said: “Following our consultation with all St Peter's ward councillors, residents and local stakeholders. As Deputy Leader I have listened to the feedback and concerns expressed and have decided to rule out as one of our potential options the pavilion in West End Park to provide shelter for the purposes of SWEP.

“We are sincerely invested in ensuring we work with all our communities, faith and volunteer groups across Tameside to provide a collective response to housing and homelessness and are committed to making homelessness rare, brief and non-recurrent. We will continue to identify our other options for the SWEP this year in the Borough. 

“We have a regular homelessness forum in operation which all community, faith based, volunteer groups, statutory and non-statutory services are welcome to attend along with those that may have been affected by homelessness in some way.”