Bridgnorth Parish Rooms

A number of false claims have recently appeared on social media concerning the use of the Parish Rooms in Bridgnorth.

These false claims could cause considerable community concern and it is important that the community know the facts.

The Parish Rooms were purchased by Shropshire Council with the support of Bridgnorth Town Council in 2024 for use as part of the council’s temporary accommodation to help people from Shropshire who are homeless or at risk of homelessness, and who the council has a legal duty to support.

Such accommodation is shown to be far better for people in this situation to help them find a permanent home as soon as possible and means the council needs less and much more costly B&B type accommodation.

This was publicised at the time, when the council also made very clear that this accommodation would not be used for the resettlement of asylum seekers. This has not changed.

Responsibility to accommodate asylum seekers rests with the Home Office and not the council.

The Parish Rooms will support people in Shropshire who are homeless or at risk of homelessness and will prove a very valuable resource for people at a difficult time.

Parish Rooms is currently being refurbished and will house 12 local homeless people when it opens. The expected opening date will be in August 2025.

Currently homeless people are housed away from the area, as the council has no provision locally and are forced to use expensive hotel facilities across the county or even in locations outside of our area.