TAUNTON could be hit by a wave of ex-offenders being turned out onto the street following their release from prison under proposed council cutbacks, it was claimed this week.

A charity says it will no longer be able to run a hostel offering training and education for male offenders and those at risk of offending if its funding from Somerset County Council is scrapped.

The closure of the House of St Martin, in Langford Lane, Pen Elm, near Norton Fitzwarren, would end up costing the NHS and the justice system, a councillor has warned.

The council has voted to chop around £900,000 from its homeless programme from April, blaming huge cuts in its Government grant.

Independent councillor Mike Rigby said he is keen for the House of St Martin, which is in his patch, to remain open as it does “really important work”.

He claims the reoffending rate for offenders housed there is as low as 2.5%, compared to the ‘unmanned in the community’ level of around 45%.

“I’d rather they were managed in somewhere like the House of St Martin,” added Mr Rigby. “If it closes, there will be nowhere for them to go.

“Closing the place will end up costing the justice system and the NHS millions of pounds – it’s false economy.

The Langley House Trust looks after 19 former criminals at the House of St Martin and 11 in the community.

Samantha Waterton, from the trust, told councillors last week there was a high risk people would be made homeless if St Martin closed as the trust would no longer be able to run the service.

Taunton Association for the Homeless could also lose its funding for adult homeless services.

Chief executive Justin Roxburgh said: “The reality of it is we will not be able to support people who are in the community to prevent them becoming homeless.”

The county council is not legally obliged to provide support for ex-offenders or those at risk of homelessness.

Cllr William Wallace, cabinet member for adult social care, said: “We understand its value, but the county council is not funded for this support or required to provide it.

"Substantial savings needed to be found in this area for the coming financial year and we will still be spending around £1.52million on housing related services.”

A final decision will be taken in February.