PLANNERS look set to allow Lancaster's former women's refuge to become a drug rehabilitation centre, despite protests from some local residents.

The refuge on Aldcliffe Road, closed at the end of May and its owners, the New Leaf housing association, want it to be used by former addicts to help in their rehabilitation.

However a letter from 34 members of the residents' association at nearby Spinners Court claimed the use was inappropriate and could lead to an increase in drug dealing, aggressive begging and a loss of security.

However, entrants to the rehabilitation programme must be drug and alcohol free and the programme organisers, Inward House, say they have never had a complaint from a neighbour in 23 years of operation about the behaviour of one of its clients.