Haslingden alcoholics centre to go ahead despite protests (From Lancashire Telegraph)

Haslingden alcoholics centre to go ahead despite protests

9:27am Thursday 12th November 2009

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A CONTROVERSIAL plan to open a care home for alcoholics has been given the go-ahead – for a year.

Haslingden residents who submitted a petition against the Dean Road centre lost their battle with the care home developers, Shardale Ltd.

Rossendale Council’s development control committee, chaired by Coun Judith Driver, gave Dale Mordlock, who will be heading up the site, permission to move 10 recovering alcoholics into the property within metres of streets where children play.

A council spokesperson said: “Because the site was previously used as a children’s home the council thought that it was a suitable facility for those in need of care.

“The reason the committee has given it a provisional licence is to safeguard the residents if any complications arise.

“We will review the facility after 12 months and discuss with the residents any issues they have had during the year.”

Twenty six residents who live in Helmcroft Court united to campaign against the site, highlighting the potential problems of the location.

Fears of an increased crime rate and gangs of unwanted people were included in the report which was sent to the council.

Shardale is a company specialising in running services for recovering alcoholics in the North West.