MORE than 170 people are objecting to plans to make a homeless hostel in Nythe permanent.

St Ives Court in Tyneham Road was a sheltered housing scheme for the elderly but since 1991 a series of temporary permissions have allowed it to operate as a hostel for homeless families.

Now Swindon Council wants to make the change permanent but local residents are unhappy.

Five people wrote to the council objecting to the proposal and 177 people signed a petition against it.

They argue that there are problems with anti-social behaviour but the council's crime and disorder team has received no formal complaints and the community police officer says there have been little, if any, problems of anti-social behaviour in the area. The officer, like many residents, did express concern over who might be housed there.

But the council's housing department says the use of the hostel is unlikely to change significantly from its current use of providing temporary accommodation for homeless families.

The planning committee meets at 7pm today at the Civic Offices, Euclid Street.