A HOUSE used by ex-prisoners is to be closed, after years of complaints from the neighbours.

The owners, Chiltern Hundreds Housing Association, and the probation service, have agreed the site is not the right one and have decided to shut it when the last two people living there move out.

Pensioner Joseph Monaghan, who lives next door to the hostel in Micklefield Road, High Wycombe, was given the news at a meeting of Wycombe District Council last week.

Mr Monaghan, at the council's first ever question-time session, asked what was to be done about the house, which was bought by the housing association three years ago and changed from a family home to what he described as a bail house or open prison.

"In that three years we have had lots of trouble including police raids, fights and loud music," he said.

"What is the council going to do, in view of the fact that old age pensioners live on either side of this house?"

District councillor Peter Cartwright, (Con, Keep Hill and Hicks Farm) who followed up complaints from Mr Monaghan, told the Free Press that using the house for people released from prison was inappropriate,

"It's been a series of complaints ever since it opened. There have been some horrific goings on there with people urinating out of windows, people coming and going at all times of day and night, and lots of bad language and loud music very un-neighbourly, especially with elderly people on either side. The police have been there umpteen times.

"It's the last thing you want."

Mr Monaghan had complained since day one, said Cllr Cartwright.

He said the chief executive of the housing association had agreed it was not working out.

Cllr Bill Bendyshe-Brown, who is the cabinet member in charge of customer services, said thye police visited the house regularly.

Chiltern Hundreds Housing Association has been working with the probation service to provide accommodation in a number of places for people out of prison. Ex-offenders can be supported in these homes and given time to get themselves settled.

But, said a spokesman, this property was not working and the association had decided to close it and use it for something different. He said people were living there but the house would close as soon as practicable.