A FOUR-year battle over plans for a controversial drink and drugs rehabilitation centre in Blackwood reached a public inquiry yesterday.

Fairlake Properties wants to open the residential centre for up to eight people recovering from addictions in Highbury House, Highbury Drive, along with staff.

The proposal sparked widespread opposition in Blackwood, with hundreds of people signing letters of oppositon, petitions and attending marches against the move, fearing the impact the recovering addicts would have on their town.

Local people said the proposed centre was too close to nearby schools and was unsuitable for a residential area, despite assurances from Fairlake that anyone who lapsed into addiction would be told to leave the centre.

Despite its cabinet initially commissioning the scheme, Caerphilly council's planning committee chose to defer the application to find reasons of refusal at a meeting last year - amid concerns over access to the site from Highbury Drive.

But before the refusals were able to come back to the committee, developers Fairlake Properties, lodged an appeal with the Planning Inspectorate Wales.

And they have since lodged new plans to use nearby Garfield Drive for disabled access.

Around 20 Blackwood residents attended the hearing at Penallta House, Ystrad Mynach yesterday, before Assembly-appointed inspector Hywel Wyn Jones.

Speaking on behalf of Caerphilly council, Geoffrey Stephenson, told the inspector the authority's main reason for opposing the plans was because Highbury Drive is unsuitable as an access road into the site.

Then planning committee chairman Councillor Stanley Jenkins said the access route was "dangerous" as Highbury Drive is steep, with poor visibility and only a small area for pedestrians.

Morag Ellis, for Fairlake, said the council's planning and highway officers had recommended the plans for approval, the company would resurface the drive and install a mirror to improve visibility, and would sign up to a green travel plan, which would aim to reduce the use of cars near the site.

Engineer and highways expert Alun Rees, who was a witness for Fairlake, said the traffic flow created by the new centre would not be significantly greater than if the site were to be returned to residential use.

Mr Stephenson disagreed, claiming that family visitors, staff and professionals visiting the site would increase the traffic.

And Councillor Kevin Etheridge told the inquiry that a number of residents have contacted him with concerns about acess from Garfield Drive.

The inqury continues today.

12:27pm Wednesday 14th May 2008

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