A NEW £5.6million centre offering drugs, alcohol and sexual health services will be built in the grounds of a new Burnley superschool.

County Hall and health bosses have been handed the Government cash to build the two-storey ‘integrated health centre’ in the Hameldon Community College campus.

It is hoped the centre in Coal Clough Lane, which will serve both pupils and residents, will be ready by September 2011 and will offer:

  • Sexual health advice and services;
  • Drugs, alcohol and mental health treatment and services;
  • A healthy schools programme;
  • Stop smoking advice
  • Parenting support and possibly even Jobcentre Plus facilities.

The proposed scheme is one of the first of its kind in the country and has been hailed as “great news for Burnley” by Lancashire County Council.

It has also been backed by councillors who say the centre is needed by young people in the area.

The Hameldon campus is being built as part of the £250million Building Schools for the Future programme, and will also include Cherry Fold Community Primary School and the Rose special school.

Angela Rawson, principal advisor on the county council’s Building Schools for the Future project, said: “This is great news for the local community and for the children and young people of Burnley, and it is groundbreaking because of the vital facilities that will be offered.

“It will be of mixed use, and used by young people in the day and by others in the evenings and weekends.

“The sexual health advice will be there for young people so if there are problems they can go there.

“The schools are really excited by this and it’s a great opportunity to work with health professionals and offer help to their students. This is something that is needed in that area.”

The scheme is being spearheaded by County Hall and backed by NHS East Lancashire.

They hope the two-storey building will be ready a year after the Hameldon campus opens in 2010. The ground floor could offer activities and healthcare with the first floor used for staff and training.

Mrs Rawson added: “The whole idea is to bring to the community of South West Burnley some of the services they currently might have to travel for.

“People travel into the town centre and quite a few people don’t have cars round there but on that campus there will be three schools and a lot of children and young people.

“It will also link in with teaching programmes at the new schools, such as healthy eating.”

Kathy Reade, chair of NHS East Lancashire, said: “If we are going to make a real change in health then nothing is more important than working with families to ensure that children receive the best start in life, so I am delighted that this initiative has been successful in its bid for funding.

“It will bring together services from health, education, social care and the community sector under one roof, and will enable us to support children and families to meet their full potential.”

Coun Julie Cooper, leader of the Burnley Labour party, said the centre’s placement on a school site would help tackle issues involving young people.

She said: “I hope the centre will deter young people from taking drugs.

“People outside of the medical profession may be unaware of how serious the problem is in the town. I welcome the plans.”

The scheme has also been backed by new Burnley Central West county councillor Charlie Briggs.

He said: “This sounds like a fantastic idea.

“Anything that brings more NHS services to that part of Burnley is good.”

And Coun Gordon Bertwistle, leader of the council, said: “We welcome any investment in Burnley and I am sure a lot of people will benefit from the services.

“I am also sure it will be professionaly run and monitored so young people will not be put at risk.”

Hameldon Community College was formed from the merger of Ivy Bank Business and Enterprise College and Habergham High School.

It currently operates from sites in Ivy Bank and Byron Street but will move next year to the new campus in Coal Clough Lane, the current home of Blessed Trinity RC College.