Drop-in centre for drug users

Although plans are at a very early stage it is likely to contain a prescribing service, a needle exchange and rehabilitation services and will serve as a base for outreach workers.

Burnley, Pendle and Rossendale Primary Care Trust is leading the development with support from the Lancashire Drugs Action Team, a group made up of a number of agencies, including the police, Lancashire County Council's social services, Burnley Council and East Lancashire Drug Support Services.

They have now formed a steering group, which is drawing up proposals for the new centre.

No site for the centre has currently been found and the group is currently seeking funding to get the project off the ground.

A spokeswoman for the PCT said: "There is no definite promise of funding yet for the centre, although the signs are very hopeful.

"When funding is established the facility is planned to be in the centre of Burnley but we haven't found any premises yet and any we do identify will have to be subject to the normal planning procedures.

She added: "There is an established need for a centre like this in this area and the fact that the funding situation is looking promising means that there will hopefully be plans on the table reasonably soon.

"But until we get that funding in place we cannot move any further forward with the proposals."

Burnley Council is also involved in the partnership that is drawing up the proposals. One of the council's strategic objectives is to reduce the impact of drug and alcohol misuse on the borough.