Emergency sleeping pods approved for the Vale

Flashback to when the planning application was made earlier in the summer

The Vale Douzaine and housing charity Caritas, which lodged the application, are delighted that permission has been granted before the cold weather arrives.

The news was released yesterday and has made the main story on today's Guernsey Press, which also notes that agreement is for a two-year trial period, after which it will be reassessed.

Caritas said that it had taken a bit of a gamble on receiving the go-ahead by ordering the two emergency sleeping pods five weeks ago so that they could be ready for the winter.

The pods, which cost £18,000 each, should arrive next month and then be set up at the rear of the Douzaine's car park and the charity will meet the actual running costs of the self-contained pods.

The Constables and Douzaine have been fully supportive of the initiative because of the growing problems of too many people in Guernsey currently without a safe place to sleep. This particularly affects younger islanders but includes those sofa surfing, to individuals staying in vehicles or sleeping rough.

"The Constables and Douzaine of the Vale believe this initiative is a valuable and meaningful response to homelessness in Guernsey," a spokesman said. "We fully support the project and are pleased that our grounds can be used to help provide immediate, practical support to those in need," it was stated when the application was made.