I got a similar reply. It's the same sort of cynical, self-serving junk that we hear everyday from mainstream national politicians being aped by their local counterparts. It's very disheartening that they have so little respect for the genuine concerns of people in this community that they trot out this pap rather than answer the questions posed in this forum and elsewhere.

Other contributors have said that politics should be kept out of this discussion but the fact is that the Labour MP, the Labour Council and local Labour councillors are unanimous in backing the Hamilton Lodge hostel while the Lib Dems and Conservatives are both opposed to it.

Draw your own conclusions.