Outcry over dental practice conversion to rehab clinic
Local residents are protesting against a dental surgery being converted into a drug rehabilitation clinic.
Inhabitants around Sudell Road in Darwen, Lancashire, have objected to the plans to convert the surgery into a drugs and alcohol rehab clinic for single mums as they believe it could bring the area down,
Experts in the Lancashire believe this clinic would provide a ‘massively’ needed service for local communities.
However, some residents claim that the clinic is being established in the wrong area and are petitioning against it.
Angus Moncrieff, who lives on Sudell Road and has organised the petition, said that the clinic would bring the area down and that children who attend the local school shouldn’t be made to walk past such a centre.
He also claimed that the rehab clinic would increase traffic issues around Sudell road and that it would increase the drug problem in the borough not reduce it.
Seventy-six-year-old John Squelch, echoed Mr Moncrieff’s sentiments, saying that it was ridiculous to set up the clinic in a residential area as it would devalue house prices.
The clinic would care for eight women at a time, employing eight full-time staff and holding a range of anger management sessions and one-to-one counselling meetings.
Welcoming the rehab clinic, Father Jim McCartney, who runs THOMAS a drug rehab centre in Blackburn, said that there is a massive need for rehabilitation services for women.
He added that the public can sometimes stigmatise people struggling with drug problems and said that while this is understandable many addicts genuinely want to recover but they need help to do this.
The Borough planning committee will make the final decision about the centre.
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