Private company ClearSprings is expected to open the hostels in ordinary houses in 150 towns and cities within the next few months under a contract with the Government.

The hostels will house low-risk offenders released early from prison on curfew and suspects awaiting trial –– but the move has been controversial amid claims of lack of consultation with councils and residents.

'Concerned'

It is understood that one place looked at by ClearSprings to open a hostel was the Avenues area of Rainworth, although it is not exactly clear where it has selected.

Coun Roger Sutcliffe, deputy mayor and Mansfield district councillor for the area, told Chad he was 'seriously concerned' about the lack of consultation.

"We have had no official notification as ward councillors or as a council about it," he said. "We have only heard a whisper down the grapevine.

"We have already got problems with anti-social behaviour down there and to get a bail hostel is absolutely unbelievable.

"It is quite an unknown and a very unsatisfactory state of affairs. We can't seem to find out what ClearSprings has got planned in Mansfield.

"I shall fight tooth and nail to stop it coming into any of the areas that suffer from anti-social behaviour problems."

ClearSprings is also believed to be planning to open a hostel in Sutton although it is not known whereabouts in the town is being considered.

'Consent'

But Ashfield District Council leader Coun Jason Zadrozny said he believed it was wrong to open one without proper consultation.

He told Chad: "These things do need to go somewhere but it's about allowing appropriate development. I think it is appropriate to have community consent.

"If local councils are not even told or informed, how can we represent our people properly? We know our areas better than some of these outside bodies."

But a spokesman for the Ministry of Justice told Chad: "It is simply not true to say that bail accommodation is being opened in secret.

"ClearSprings is under a contractual obligation to consult in areas where they are to open bail accommodation. Any reports that it has failed to do so will be investigated.

"Those in BASS (Bail Accommodation Support Ser-vice) accommodation are innocent until proven guilty.

"Defendants who pose a risk to the public will continue to be held on remand."

He told Chad he could not reveal the chosen locations of the hostels.

It is believed planning permission is not needed for the hostels because they will only house up to five people, who would be lower risk offenders, with no sex offenders or arsonists.

The hostels will mainly be used for those without a fixed address to be bailed to or tagged under a curfew order after early release from prison — and a decision to place them would be made by magistrates or the probation service.

Support services for those on curfew at the hostels would be given for one hour a week and those on bail would receive three hours support a week for the first three weeks, then one hour a week.