People power stops Pill rehab centre (From South Wales Argus)

People power stops Pill rehab centre

10:50am Friday 10th July 2009

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PEOPLE power prevailed in the fight against a proposal for a drug rehab centre for offenders in one of the most deprived areas of Gwent.

City councillors heard passionate pleas against allowing the intervention programme centre to open in Lower Dock Street, Pill.

They also heard from a representative of the CRI which planned to run the centre.

But in the end the planning committee decided unanimously to refuse consent although the organisation could appeal.

Alwyn Jenkins said it had taken two years to develop a site in Lower Dock Street for 11 apartments and three shops, heavily supported by the Townscape Heritage Initiative.

"We have now got the dagger in the heart of a drug centre being placed right next door."

CRI, a national organisation, intended to operate a range of services including dispensing prescription drugs, drug testing, counselling and probation meetings.

Its representative Neville Brooks told the committee said they had run a centre in Powell Place, in premises which were no longer available to them, without incident for the last three years.

He emphasised that clients would only visit by appointment and there would be a very rigid structure.

But Pill Cllr and resident Dr Ibrahim Hayat said they were trying to do a lot of improvement work there and they did not need a centre which would bring in people with drugs problems who had been involved in criminality.

He added they were trying to eradicate that sort of behaviour and provide positive role models for children.

The committee was told there were other drug centres in the area.

Cllr John Richards said: "It is about time this city gave Pill a chance."

He said millions of pounds had been spent upgrading the area and this would be a retrograde step.

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