Guy Owen

The founder of Lincoln homeless charity Nomad Trust has warned that the number of homeless people will continue to rise on the 20th birthday of the city’s night shelter.

Alan Perkins, who set up the charity in 1984 and opened the centre in 1997, has said the drugs scene in the city is worse than it has ever been.

He also blamed the Government’s roll-out of Universal Credit schemes for exacerbating the issue of rough sleeping.

Nomad Trust celebrated the 20th anniversary of the night shelter on …. with a special celebration event on Thursday, November 16.

Staff and volunteers also bolstered their plea for support to create a new £1.2 million 18-bed day centre and emergency overnight accommodation.

Talking to The Lincolnite, Alan said: “The drug scene is a lot bigger now than it ever has been from the amount of loneliness, despair and marriage breakups.

“People, even youngsters, are on the street, far more than there ever was.

“I have to say due to government legislation and Universal Credit, I can’t see any other way other than getting worse than what it already is.”

Nomad’s night shelter provides beds and meals to homeless people within the city.

YMCA Housing Service Manager, Dean Bell, said: “We’re looking to repurpose and remodel an existing facility.

“We are going to remodel both floors and have a state of the art, purpose built, facility.”

Plans have been submitted to the City of Lincoln Council for a new 63-bedroom hotel and restaurant in the city centre.

Submitted by Mike Hayes-Cowley, who currently leases the New Theatre Royal, the hotel would be based on Clasketgate which is currently occupied by an office block and car park.

Artist impressions of the plans for the 63-bedroom hotel and restaurant.

The hotel would be situated at 27-29 Clasketgate, which sits between the New Theatre Royal and Danesgate accommodation.

Within the plans, there is also room for a top floor restaurant pitched as a great stop-off for theatre goers to the city.

Speaking to The Lincolnite, Mike Hayes-Cowley said: “The New Theatre Royal is a struggling venue and and we’re hoping with a property investing the development will serve as a dual purpose.

Artist impressions of the plans for the 63-bedroom hotel and restaurant.

“The theatre doesn’t receive the public funding that other theatres across the country receive and it will be used to help with an income stream.

“This will help the needs with the city in the needs of tourism and the restaurant can be used as a selling point and a tourist attraction.

Artist impressions of the plans for the 63-bedroom hotel and restaurant.

“We also hope this will assist the theatre and hope to offer ticket deals for those who could stay in the hotel in an area that needs redevelopment.”

Mike also said he didn’t want to put a timescale on the plans if it was approved, however stated that he would like the hotel to be completed sooner rather than later.

Artist impressions of the plans for the 63-bedroom hotel and restaurant.

There are only five parking spaces in the plans, however Mike believes this won’t be an issue.

“We’ve worked closely with the architects and with the new parking spaces being made available with the new Transport Hub, the city can benefit from people using them.

“Most luxury hotels in big cities don’t offer car parking and we’re using the location as a selling point.”