CONTROVERSIAL plans for an addict rehabilitation centre in Whitehall have been dropped.

Hundreds of people objected to Reto UK’s bid to to change The Woodlands, Holly Trees Close, into a centre to help up to 40 men recover from drink and drug problems.

Now Blackburn with Darwen Council has been notified that the charity wishes to drop the plans.

Whitehall councillor and deputy leader of the council, David Foster, said: “The application has been withdrawn and I imagine that the residents of the Whitehall area will be relieved.

“We had one of the biggest mailbags and number of telephone calls we’ve ever had over a planning application.

“Residents and councillors worked together to present a good case and it has been successful.”

He said: “I was talking to the applicant after a recent meeting and I think the reason is because they were concerned about the level of opposition in the community. They want to be welcomed, and I also think they wanted somewhere to build a workshop.”

Whitehall resident June Ellison, who objected to the development, said: “I am absolutely delighted, everybody is.

"It’s too close to Ashleigh Primary School, a pre-school, a park and playground and the road is only wide enough for one car. It was a totally unsuitable idea.”

Conservative Prospective Parliamentary Candidate Jake Berry, who collected over 400 objections to the proposal, said: “I accept that addiction is a massive issue in Britain today and any facility which can help people out of the trap of addiction is to be welcomed. "However, this particular application was completely inappropriate to the area.”

Reto project leader Lance Reagle was unavailable for comment.