A LEADING Liverpool councillor has hit out at the use of make-shift “lilo” style beds for domestic violence victims.

Leader of the Liberal Group, Steve Radford, claims women arriving at Geneva House, an emergency housing facility in the east of the city, often have to sleep on temporary air beds because there is a shortage of space.

But the city council says those in need only have to sleep in the centre’s “emergency room” for a maximum of one night while more permanent accommoda- tion is finalised.

Cllr Radford said: “This situation illustrates there is a shortage of accommodation, no matter what the council says. This facility is supposed to provide emer- gency accommodation – that is what it is there for and it should be available at any time of the day.

“I cannot think of anything worse than a domestic violence victim having to sleep on a lilo or bunk bed, straight after an ordeal. It makes a mockery of the £35m the council is spending on demolishing terrace housing, much of which could still be used.

“It is absurd, some of these houses set for demolition are beyond repair yet many could be renovated to provide accommodation and help people on waiting lists.”

A Liverpool council spokesman insisted the beds were only used in an emergency.

He said: “Geneva House has an emer- gency room and if people arrive in the middle of the night emergency bedding is found for them, instead of sleeping on chairs or something similar. People will only spend a maximum of one night there and we are monitoring the situation. It is the excep- tion rather than the rule and it is not because of overcrowding.”

Cllr Radford, who repre- sents Tuebrook ward, is an ardent opponent of the Housing Market Renewal Initiative (HMRI), a Govern- ment scheme to tackle poor housing in parts of the North and Midlands of England.

Many houses are being re- furbished in Merseyside but many face demolition at sites in inner city Liverpool.

The council added: “We are using HMRI money to tackle poor housing stock and mark- et failure in parts of the city’s inner area. This includes houses in a poor condition in which people still live, as well as houses which are empty or unpopular because no-one wants to live there anymore.

“Through rebuilding, refurbishment and improved management of the area, HMRI will help local communities to live in decent, desirable homes in attractive, healthier places; and have access to job opportunities and better public transport.”