TAUNTON faces a homeless crisis, with hundreds of vulnerable adults potentially being turned onto the streets under proposed council cuts.

It is claimed the authorities will be unable to cope if Taunton Association for the Homeless loses its £628,000 annual P4A Somerset County Council grant to look after over 25s – and it could end up costing the taxpayer £1.8million a year.

The changes being considered would result in funding being withdrawn for 103 bed spaces in Taunton, 12 in West Somerset and 19 more countywide, as well as ‘floating support’ for 43 people.

Writing to the county, Simon Lewis, Taunton Deane and West Somerset Councils’ assistant director for housing and community development, said the two authorities would be unable to foot the resulting £290,000 B&B accommodation and administration bill.

He added: “The result will be a dramatic rise in homelessness.”

Mr Lewis questions where the 401 vulnerable or homeless adults supported by TAH over the past 18 months will go.

He believes many people made homeless in other parts of Somerset will “gravitate toward Taunton”, adding: “Our services will be inundated and simply unable to respond to this both in terms of staffing and financial ability to support them.”

Problems that could emerge include anti-social behaviour, freed prisoners struggling to ‘go straight’, rough sleeping, street cleansing costs, increased staff workloads and financial problems for providers, while the impact on agencies such as the police and health services would be “hugely significant”.

The LibDems on Taunton Deane Council claim the costs for “picking up the pieces” could spiral to over £1.8million and it would lead to more crime and rough sleeping, “spoiling the image of the town”.

Group leader Cllr Simon Coles said: “Do you think the taxpayer is going to be fooled by this alleged ‘saving’ when the wider impact is so appalling for the community and those who are so vulnerable?

“Someone has got to stop this madness and make Somerset County Council work with its partners on what is in the best interest in everyone involved.”

TAH chief executive Justin Roxburgh has sent an impact statement to County Hall, voicing concerns about the potential impact on crime, health services, the Probation Service and town centres.

He added: “In terms of rough sleeping, we’re hoping to come up with some alternatives that we can work with the county council on and share the burden of these cuts.”

A county spokesman said partners and service providers are being consulted on proposed changes to some support services for adults in order to make savings, with a final decision expected in February.

He added: “No final decisions have been made relating to next year’s budget but talks are currently underway across all of our services as we look to make the necessary savings.

“The P4A programme faces the same challenges in reducing expenditure as every other service the council provides.”