RESIDENTS are fighting plans to put a drug treatment centre for Burnley near their homes.

The scheme for a £1.6million Drugs Street Agency at former care home Burnley House in Westgate was announced by health bosses and Lancashire Drug Action Team last week.

But people living near the site are unhappy at the thought of addicts so close to their homes and have put up a sign with the message "Say No To Burnley Drug Project".

Burnley Borough Council, one of the organisations backing the project, has decided to hold a public meeting to answer people's concerns and has sent more than a hundred leaflets to residents and businesses in the area telling them what's going on.

A spokesman said: "We're having a public meeting to let people know what it is all about and listen to any questions they may have.

"There are people who have questions and concerns about it and we would encourage them to come along. We are trying to get people involved as much as we can do."

The centre is being developed because current services for drug users are not accessible enough to the people who need them and cannot cope with a growing drugs problem.

Last month it was announced Burnley had the second highest rate of drug-related deaths in the country.

Now councillors, Burnley, Pendle and Rossendale Primary Care Trust and Lancashire Drug Action Team have decided to join forces and create a centre where all the support and services drug users need will be available under one roof. The centre will not be residential.

Last week, Burnley Council leader Coun Stuart Caddy said the Drugs Street Agency would play a "crucial role" in tackling Burnley's drug problem.

The public meeting will be held at the Vanguard Centre, Bevington Close on December 6 at 6pm and officials from Burnley Borough Council and Burnley, Pendle and Rossendale Primary Care Trust will set out what the scheme will involve and answer questions.