RESIDENTS of a Powick housing estate crowded into the village hall last night (Wednesday August 10) to discuss a planning application for a home for people with autism.

The Options Group, a healthcare provider which runs an autism centre at the Rhydd, Hanley Castle, wants to create the home in Bredon House, a former office building on the Byron Wood estate.

The meeting was called by district councillor Tom Wells, to allow residents to meet representatives of the Options Group and air their concerns.

The proposal will give a home to eight people aged 20-25 with autistic spectrum conditions, with the aim of allowing them to live in the community.

At the meeting, Coun Wells and planning officer Vicky Bilton outlined how the planning process works and how local people can participate.

Resident after resident, some of whom had worked with people with autism, spoke up about their worries about the effect the home will have on their locality.

Bill Bowen, a retired headmaster, was applauded when he said the proposal to locate the young people, likely to be male, in their community was "both incongruous and inappropriate".

Louise Harris, a mother of young children, said that the estate was now a very quiet and safe environment for children, and said people were worried what impact the incomers would have on that.

Darren Goodwin of Options said: "The people who would be living at Bredon House are people who want to live independent lives in the community. Residents will get to know them, get to know their personalities and they will become part of the local community."

He said any residents are welcome to contact him, and he would be happy for people to visit the Hanley Castle facility.