A CONTROVERSIAL new drugs and alcohol rehabilitation unit will be based at a health centre, after initial plans to locate it in the community were thrown out.

NHS East Lancashire had remained tightlipped about the exact whereabouts of the new centre but it can now be revealed that it will be at the new Accrington Pals health centre in Paradise Street.

Residents and councillors won a victory in November last year when the NHS trust dropped plans to create a drugs and alcohol abuse centre at the Peel Centre, a former GP surgery in Avenue Parade, Accrington.

More than 2,000 people had signed a petition over fears the their families would be put at risk by the unit.

Avenue Parade is in one of Hyndburn's most highly-populated areas.

The Accrington Pals centre is located near offices and Accrington town centre.

Hyndburn Council leader Peter Britcliffe said: “I think that this could be the ideal place for the facility.

“It is handy for the town centre but not in the middle of a community.

“I think everyone is of the opinion that there is a need for these facilities but it must be in a suitable location.

“There are very few residents nearby and I think that this would be a reasonable site.”

Val Robertson, NHS East Lancashire corporate affairs director, said initially that the trust wanted to keep the location under wraps until a formal planning application was lodged to avoid the kind of adverse publicity generated last year.

She added: “We have identified a property that we are looking at for this treatment centre and we are awaiting a decision now from Hyndburn Council.”