Recovery unit sparks anger in Waterfoot (From Lancashire Telegraph)

Recovery unit sparks anger in Waterfoot

4:30pm Friday 15th June 2012 in Waterfoot

Waterfoot traders have spoken out after discovering that former drug addicts will be housed in the town.

East Lancashire charity Inspire will open an abstinence unit for six recovered substance abusers in Bacup Road next month.

But local businesswoman Marie Buckley said the public had not been consulted about the move.

Marie, who runs The Curiosity Shop on the same street, said retailers and residents were angry at the ‘underhand’ way the project had been handled.

She said: “The shops around here got a letter only the day before a public meeting last Thursday. I have to run a business and it’s difficult to arrange cover at such short notice.

“The public around Waterfoot know nothing about this scheme. Those behind it are looking thro-ugh rose-tinted spectacles.

"They don’t appreciate the reality of what we have to go through.

“If these people are totally clean and no trouble then why are they installing cameras in every room?”

Nikki Armitage, the services manager at Inspire, defended the plans and said a monitoring group, which will include residents and businesses, will be set up to oversee the unit.

She said: “Last week’s meeting was the beginning of an ongoing consultation programme. There may have been some delays in people receiving invitations due to the long Bank Holiday beforehand.

“Some people aren’t comfortable with speaking at public drop-in sessions so further meetings will be done on an individual basis and a Q&A leaflet will be distributed to residents as part of our feedback from last week.

“We can give reassurances to those concerned that the unit have strong management and that CCTV cameras, which are not in every room, are standard practice in all social housing schemes.”

Waterfoot traders have spoken out after discovering that former drug addicts will be housed in the town.

East Lancashire charity Inspire will open an abstinence unit for six recovered substance abusers in Bacup Road next month.

But local businesswoman Marie Buckley said the public had not been consulted about the move.

Marie, who runs The Curiosity Shop on the same street, said retailers and residents were angry at the ‘underhand’ way the project had been handled.

She said: “The shops around here got a letter only the day before a public meeting last Thursday. I have to run a business and it’s difficult to arrange cover at such short notice.

“The public around Waterfoot know nothing about this scheme. Those behind it are looking through rose-tinted spectacles.

"They don’t appreciate the reality of what we have to go through.

“If these people are totally clean and no trouble then why are they installing cameras in every room?”

Nikki Armitage, the services manager at Inspire, defended the plans and said a monitoring group, which will include residents and businesses, will be set up to oversee the unit.

She said: “Last week’s meeting was the beginning of an ongoing consultation programme. There may have been some delays in people receiving invitations due to the long Bank Holiday beforehand.

“Some people aren’t comfortable with speaking at public drop-in sessions so further meetings will be done on an individual basis and a Q&A leaflet will be distributed to residents as part of our feedback from last week.

“We can give reassurances to those concerned that the unit have strong management and that CCTV cameras, which are not in every room, are standard practice in all social housing schemes.”

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