The proposals would have cost more than �900,000.

Deputy Peter Roffey says the island's alcoholics and homeless people have lost out after the States debate was cut short by a sursis motion.

Many deputies branded the plans for the hostel in St Peter Port ill thought out and lacking in detail.

Deputy Jonathan Le Tocq led the calls for a rethink.

He said: "Whilst I feel something urgently needs to be done as regards providing accommodation for recidivist drinkers I don't believe St Julian's is the right place to be doing this."

The proposals for the facility at St Julian's would have cost more than �900,000.

Many alcoholics currently sleep in public toilets or in the back streets of St Peter Port, where they feel they are out of the way of police patrols and members of the public.