The YMCA has this week pledged to address concerns from residents living next to the new YMCA Highbridge building amid reports of anti-social behaviour and acts of violence from the occupants.
The new £4.6m replacement for the former Highbridge Hotel opened in February and provides a community cafe, a large multi-use sports hall for group sports, plus modern meeting areas, and 23 new homes with supported accommodation for young people.
While local residents welcomed the opening of the building earlier in the year, they say that the occupants have been making their lives a misery.
One resident told us: “We were subject to violence, shouting and have heard threats of stabbing each other. This is now getting beyond a joke and it has only be open a few months and it is a disgrace how it is being handled.”
“We need to be protected from this antisocial behaviour – it is just not fair. When this lockdown is over we want to be able to let our kids out to play, but we won’t due to the behaviour of the residents of the YMCA.”
Another resident adds: “The Police have been called to the YMCA on a daily basis both night and day time. There’s loud shouting, swearing, and smoking out the front of the building, girls screaming at the top of their lungs at each other and the blokes fighting and threats of stabbing each other.”
Responding to the concerns this week, a YMCA spokeswoman told Burnham-On-Sea.com: “We are working very hard with our clients to ensure that they are able to isolate safely, across our sites we have increased staffing both during the day and overnight.”
“It is indeed a challenging time, for everyone, and I continue to encourage our staff and our residents to be safe and for the latter behave in a manner which befits the opportunity that has been presented to them in being accommodated.”
“To be clear in these last three weeks we have had to act swiftly to ensure that those most vulnerable are accommodated in order to make our communities safe, and under instruction from the government and of course our local authority.”
“The clients we have placed within the new building have not been those which were initially proposed, and to this end there have been challenges.”
“That said, it would be unfortunate if neighbours were to blanket blame ‘The YMCA’ and the whole resident group, as the overwhelming majority are working with the staff team to remain safe, and indeed in doing so we have during this period managed to take people rough-sleeping into our accommodation and then in partnership with Sedgemoor District Council move them on to independent living.”
“I think it is interesting to note at this time, that whilst the centre was initially open, there was a very positive feeling around the building, and indeed at that time we had 14 residents in situ and there was only positive comment with regards the provision for the children and young people of neighbours and behaviour of those living with us.”
“I have spoken at length with the team and have asked that for the next two weeks we move to a double staffing model at YMCA Highbridge, which will reduce any issues that our neighbours believe come from the new building.”
“Equally, we have Sedgemoor District Council’s support in ensuring that behaviours are managed and in the event of individuals not following our strict guidance they will be asked to leave.”
“We look forward as we develop stronger relationships with our neighbours, to ensuring that YMCA Highbridge remains an asset to the community.”
