CONTROVERSIAL plans to open a rehabilitation centre for single mothers in Darwen have been thrown out.

Planning officers used their powers to refuse the plan to convert a dental surgery in Sudell Road before it went to planning committee.

The plans would have seen up to eight women who had a history of substance abuse, including alcohol, drugs and solvents, housed with their children for treatment.

Sudell councillor Roy Davies, who had described the plans as like ‘putting an alcoholic up in a pub’, said it was a victory for residents.

He said: “It’s good news for everyone in this area.

“Feelings have run very high.

“It’s a relief that people power has won.

“The people going into the centre would have been from out of town and so would the staff.

“Darwen wouldn’t have got any benefit but all the hassle.”

He added: “The only concern now is who’s going to buy the building?

“There’s nowhere to park around here, and that was one of our main objections to the rehab centre.”

Coun Simon Huggill, who has been speaking to planners, said that it was 'back to square one' for the applicants.

He said: “The applicants can appeal against this decision but it would cost a lot of money and I wouldn’t have thought they would be successful.

“They need to prove that there’s an unmet need for this in the town.”

This is the second application for a rehabilitation centre in the town in recent months that has been unsuccessful.

A plan to turn a private house in Holly Trees Close into a centre for men were scrapped in October amid fierce local opposition.

Applicant for the Sudell Road plans, Catherine Floyd, of Oswaldtwistle-based Station Plans, was unavailable for comment.