Councillor questions Durham drug centre plan (From The Northern Echo)

Councillor questions Durham drug centre plan

4:34pm Thursday 16th February 2012 in Durham City News By Mark Tallentire

NHS plans to open a drug and alcohol treatment centre in a residential area have been questioned by a councillor.

Health bosses want to move the facility from Claypath to near Durham prison, in Whinney Hill, Durham City.

They say the Claypath centre is no longer fit for purpose and the proposed new base, formerly prison officers’ houses, would allow them to offer better facilities and cut re-offending.

However, Elvet county councillor David Freeman said: "While treatment for those with drug and alcohol problems is very important, I question its appropriateness in what is a residential street which the residents and I are working to improve.

"The local community will have many concerns about any treatment centre in the street and the individuals who would be using the centre. There will inevitably be fears about the potential for crime and anti-social behaviour."

The derelict houses could have been converted to affordable social housing, he added.

David Stoker, another Elvet councillor, said residents would expect the highest standards of supervision to avoid any impact on a residential neighbourhood.

Mark Harrison, joint commissioning manager in the public health and drug and alcohol commissioning team, said there was often a misconception about treatment centres and officials were working hard to reduce the stigma around them and demonstrate their value to users and the wider community.

Residents can find out more about the proposals at the Prison Officers’ Mess, Old Elvet, Durham, on Thursday, February 23, from 4.30pm to 7.30pm; Friday, February 24, from 10am to 4pm; and Saturday, February 25, from 9.30am to noon.