THE issue of homelessness is escalating fast in Winsford according to town councillors, who have described the problem as a ‘failure of society’.

Winsford Town Council addressed the issue of homeless men in the town at its meeting on Monday and councillors are calling on housing associations to provide shelter in Winsford.

Town mayor, Cllr Steve Smith, raised the issue, saying it has long concerned him.

Cllr Smith said: “It’s something that’s concerned me for a long time. When I was younger there was times when I was near to the cut myself.

“There are so many ways you can be led into being homeless now but I think the main problem is the increasing rent and wages aren’t going up with it.

“We’re all aware of sofa surfing and I have put people up myself when I was younger. But I have noticed an increase because I know people in Winsford personally of old and it’s not exactly something that people want to talk about.

Winsford has a shelter for homeless women, Cotswold House in Cotswold Way, but the town has no provision for homeless men.

Councillors voted in favour of obtaining information from Cheshire West and Chester Council as to the policy regarding homelessness and shelters, with a view to pushing for homeless provision.

Cllr Edwards said: “Obviously we have people sleeping on settees but we’re now in a situation where we have people sleeping on the streets. It’s a very sad indictment on the present society that we live in.

“I’m aware of one man living rough around the town centre and I think what a failure of society that is.”