THE priest behind a proposed centre for drug users and alcoholics is to hold a public meeting in a bid to allay fears about the unit.

The founder and chief executive of THOMAS - Those on the Margins of Society - Father Jim McCartney hopes his talk will reassure people living near Windsmoor House School, Spring Lane, Mill Hill, Blackburn.

THOMAS is to open a centre to house 25 people recovering from alcohol or drug addiction.

Residents and a councillor living nearby have spoken out against the plans, saying there were enough drink and drug problems there already.

And they have also been left unhappy that the council was powerless to stop the centre opening because the building already had permission to be used as a nursing home, which falls under the same planning category as a hostel.

Father Jim acknowledged the fears of local residents at the siting of the centre.

He said: "I can understand the concerns some of the people have, but I look forward to reassuring people that it will add to the area and not detract from it.

"This is not a hostel. It is a therapeutic unit for drug addicts and all the people on the programme are totally drug-free."

He said he hoped the unit would become a centre of excellence and model that was copied across the region. He said people undergoing the rigorous treatment would be vetted for their commitment and willingness to stay clean if admitted to the centre.

The £800,000 project will be funded by a loan from the government-backed scheme Futurebuilders, which helps successful voluntary groups.

The meeting is scheduled to take place at 7pm on Tuesday at Griffin Park Primary School, Cavendish Place.

A DVD showing the success of work done at the present THOMAS site will be shown and Fr Jim will take questions.