THE woman who wants to turn a Darwen Victorian manor house into a drink and drugs rehab centre has criticised the 'outrageous' decision to reject the plans.

Catherine Floyd, of Oswaldtwistle-based The Station Project, accused councillors of 'playing to the galleries' of protestors.

And she revealed she will appeal in a bid to see a facility for up to 10 women with substance misuse problems and their children created at the Grade-two listed The Woodlands, Holly Tree Close, Darwen.

Miss Floyd, 40, who said she was a recovering alcoholic, said she believed the committee did not reject the proposal on planning grounds.

She said: "It’s an outrage. I believe I will be successful at appeal and the council will be embarrassed.”

Miss Floyd founded the The Station Project because she feels there is a lack of rehabilitation services on offer in East Lancashire.

She hopes to run parenting skills programmes, theraputic sessions and substance misuse programmes at The Woodlands. There would be no drink or drugs allowed on site.

Miss Floyd denies that the facility would attract drug dealers, crime or prostitutes to the area - as some nearby residents fear.

She said: “This is a very large house with private grounds, and there would be strict controls on visitors.”

The house has been empty since it closed as a care home for the elderly in 2007.

Owner Margaret Champ originally put it on the market for £1.6million, but has now dropped the price to £650,000.

She said: “The people around here will complain about anything. They have no compassion or charity in their hearts.”