A drug treatment centre will hold an open day to calm fears among traders who felt its visitors were affecting business.

The Castlebridge Centre, in Bishop Auckland, hopes a tour of the discreet service will ease concerns among town centre shopkeepers raised last month.

A 30-signature petition called for action but the centre manager said traders’ fears were unfounded at a meeting at the Old Bank Chambers on Friday. Malcolm Kirkup said the Castlebridge Centre, managed by County Durham Drug and Alcohol Team (Durham DAAT), offers a wide range of therapies and an on-site doctor provides methadone prescriptions.

He added the centre takes referrals from other agencies and is assisting those already seeking help.

“As they stabilise they come less and less and less, maybe once a fortnight, to see the doctor,” he said.

He said there are 300 people on the books but the centre also treats former addicts fighting to avoid relapse.

Some traders wanted the centre moved to an industrial estate but town centre manager Steve McCormick said they don’t have his support. “The town centre is for retail, commercial and community services and the Castlebridge Centre is one of those services provided,” he said.

“It is more accessible here for those who need to use it.”

Rev Brenda Jones, of Woodhouse Close Church, called for more understanding, adding: “We are talking about very vulnerable people who are using the centre.

“The people there are there because they are wanting treatment and because they are wanting help.”

Councillor Sam Zair said any dip in trade should be attributed to the economic downturn.

“How far do you go?,” he said. “Some people think groups of youths on town centre corners should be moved on cause they intimidate people but this is a society we live in and I don’t think we should use these groups as whipping tools.”

The open day is planned for August.