I MUST take issue with your editorial comment " 'Challenging' kids must have a city home" (October 7). While your editorial may well be a fair reflection of your online commentators' views, it, for me, was a misrepresentation of the views of those people in Alvaston I have spoken to about this proposal.
No-one from Alvaston who has spoken to me regarding their concerns over the proposals of G4S were less than understanding of the need to look after vulnerable children.
The righteous concerns of local people was partly due to the way that G4S have handled this proposal. It has been done in a most cack-handed way. Not quite up to the level of disaster witnessed at the 2012 Olympics but very much in line with their reputation.
G4S are a 'for profit' organisation and have, as far as I can see, have very much approached this project in this way. We can so we will, seems to be their method of operation.
They could have spoken to the city council and the Derby Safeguarding Children's Board before they put in the planning application – they did not.
They could have contacted and had a conversation with the local ward councillors before they did anything – they did not.
They could have organised a local consultation event for the people of Alvaston who live near the proposed site – they have not.
They could have checked to see whether they needed a planning application for change of use – they did not. The city planners had to point this, their omission, out to them!
In your editorial you say, "If no care and attention is paid to problem children, they become problem adults". Something I would absolutely agree with and so would the people of Alvaston. But I have little confidence of this being delivered with G4S as a corporate parent, given the way G4S have treated the city and Alvaston residents with so little respect.
As for the location, maybe it is just me that next door but one to a nursery and opposite a pub is not the best place for this establishment to home challenging children.
Councillor Paul Bayliss
Labour Councillor for Alvaston ward
