Creating more hostels as a housing solution, given the deterioration of children’s behaviour and educational achievement in these institutions (B&Bs and hostels), is simply not fair, and there are plans to utilise the Children’s Act and Human Rights Act to protect these children from such institutionalisation. Especially if they are as large as that proposed at the Upex Hilton. This will be three times the average size of borough-run hostels, and will place one in ten of all borough-run hostel licencees here in this small area of Forest Hill, one very much populated by primary schools.

Shame on those Councillors who can only see this in one dimension – sometimes thinking inside the box might help, as long as they stay there.