PUTTING a rehabilitation centre for single mothers in the Sudell area of Darwen would be like ‘putting an alcoholic up in a pub’, according the the ward councillor.

Liberal Democrat Roy Davies spoke out over plans to convert a dental surgery in Sudell Road into a residential care centre for women with drug and alcohol problems and their children.

He said: “It’s a frightening prospect.

“How much abuse is there in this area already going on?

“You only need to read about all the drugs raids taking place here to know we have enough problems with drink and drugs as it is. It’s a completely unsuitable location.”

Coun Davies also claimed that a letter sent out to nearby residents was misleading.

He said: “Now the application has gone up on the council website, we can see how vague the letter to residents was.

“It is very misleading and only had the bare facts, no details.”

Fellow Sudell councillor Paul Browne agreed that the Sudell ward has a lot of addiction problems.

He said: “There are a lot of drug users in this area and there are a lot of teenagers getting boozed up on the streets, but to give the police credit, they do show up whenever you call them.”

Labour representative for Labour, Eileen Entwistle said: “This area is a hotspot for a number of drink and drugs problems, but there is a lot of good work going on to combat this.

“We have to concentrate on the positives and not do this ward down.”

According to the plans, submitted by Catherine Floyd, of Oswaldtwistle-based Station Plans, the centre will have eight staff and offer anger management classes, counselling and treatment to up to eight women and their children at a time.

The women would have a history of substance abuse, including alcohol, illiicit and prescribed drugs, and solvents. Some may also have a history of self-harm.

They would be tested for misuse on a daily basis and asked to leave if found to have flouted the zero-tolerance rules.

The women would also be denied access to money and telephones, and all journeys from the house would be supervised.

A meeting to discuss the application will be tomorrow (Tuesday) at 7.30pm at the Highfield Working Men’s Club in Ratcliffe Street.

Councillors will be attending along with representatives of the council’s highways department. The applicants and members of the police have also been invited.