Llanelli: Protest against drug treatment centre near playground

Protesters claim Llanelli's North Dock could become dangerous for children if a drug treatment centre is opened

Protesters claim an area which includes a playground could become dangerous for children if a drug addiction treatment centre is built.

Hywel Dda health board wants to build a "wellbeing centre" at North Dock in Llanelli, Carmarthenshire.

That will include moving Dyfed Drug and Alcohol Service there from the town's Vaughan Street.

More than 200 people have objected to the plan.

Resident Lesley Hill believed the centre "would bring the area down".

She said: "In town, people come to use the service, but they are hanging around in the area.

There are plans to move Dyfed Drug and Alcohol Service to this building

"I don't think it will be a safe area for children and families."

Councillor Sean Rees said there were health and safety concerns about the plans.

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He claimed the proposed new site, which would be at the existing Dragon 24 centre, was "the worst location they could have come up with".

"We have a children's playground here and water-based activities taking place in the dock," he said.

"All of this has not been taken into consideration. We've offered alternative sites but they've been dismissed."

Mr Rees claimed no risk assessment had been undertaken and called on planners to go "back to the drawing board".

Llanelli councillor Louvain Roberts is against the plans

Mr Rees, fellow councillor Louvain Roberts and about 70 others held a protest outside the centre on Monday.

Ms Roberts worried "vulnerable" centre users might fall in the dock or the River Lliedi.

She said: "You've got water on both sides. It could be very dangerous.

"There's water in the river and the dock. They could fall in the water."

Janella Banks, who lives nearby, said she agreed, adding: "They have to be helped but don't put them in areas where they might end up in the dock drowning."

The council's planning report said the application was supported by police, that the service would be mostly appointment only and that there would be CCTV around the building.

Locals fear the plans would make the area less safe for children

The service will offer counselling, care planning, cognitive behavioural therapy, crisis intervention, care planning and "hard reduction advice", according to the report.

It dismissed "unfounded" worries about the dock and the river and said there was no statutory requirement to risk assess the application.

The proposed development is recommended for approval.

But at a meeting on Thursday Carmarthenshire council's planning committee voted to visit the site before considering the application.

Hywel Dda University Health Board said the planning application "will help us build better health outcomes for the people of Llanelli".

Joanna Dainton from the health board said: "We know that lifestyle behaviours such as smoking, alcohol misuse, poor nutrition, low levels of physical activity and substance misuse contribute to the leading causes of preventable ill health and early death in Carmarthenshire, Pembrokeshire and Ceredigion.

"Anchor Point will help us change that. It is designed to benefit all members of society, from children and young people to the very oldest members of our communities."

She said the health board "look forward to delivering services and support" and that the "benefits to Llanelli are quite literally life changing".

Dyfed Alcohol and Drug Service (DDAS) has been approached for comment.