A HOMELESS shelter in the Old Market Hall could become a reality now that a planning application has been put forward by the Monmouth Group of Parishes.

Rev Catherine Haynes has applied to convert the first floor of the building to a night shelter between the hours of 6pm and 9am.

The area was for many years the county court rooms and housed the Tourist Information Centre between 2008 and 2011 before being vacant for a number of years, only recently being used as a pop-up gymnasium for the leisure centre.

Last winter the Monmouth Churches Housing Group ran a successful night shelter across three separate venues in Monmouth.

Capitalising on the success of the operation, she has met with Ian Bakewell, Housing and Communities Manager with Monmouthshire County Council and Jane Oates "who have encouraged our application"."The night shelter has been operational since January this year when it ran for three nights a week over two months, providing accommodation in church halls," she said.

Supported by MCC and Gwent Police, she is looking to provide practical help for rough sleepers between January and February "but may run to the end of March according to need and the availability of suitably checked and trained volunteers".

The night shelter will run seven days a week and operate between 6pm and 8am.

Wardens will admit guests one by one, and will inspect their bags and be asked to show or empty their pockets to ensure that no alcohol, drugs or knives are taken into the shelter.

Each guest will then be given a camp bed, duvet and cover, sleeping bag, sheet and pillow which will be stored in a box with their name on once they leave in the morning.

Sheets and pillow cases will be washed every day and returned to the night shelter.

Guests will also be given towels and bags with shower gel or soap, a toothbrush and toothpaste.

A food box in the kitchen will provide mugs, milk, tea, coffee, sugar, plastic spoons and flasks with hot water.

Guests can be excluded should they break the rules to ensure the proper running of the shelter.

Warnings will be given and time allowed for the situation to calm down. Minor issues such as dispruptive behaviour may incur and exclusion of one night. Serious misbehaviour - violence, stealing or dealing drugs - will incur immediate exclusion for a period of time.

The plans can be viewed at MCC’s plannig portal, DM/2019? 01804.