Protestors lose rehab centre fight

7:40am Saturday 5th July 2008

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PROTESTERS have lost their four-year-battle to prevent a £1 million drink and drugs rehabilitation centre being built in Blackwood.

A planning inspector ruled the eight-place unit can be developed at Highbury House, despite widespread fears over its unsuitability in a residential area and close to a primary school.

Angry residents have lobbied and petitioned Caerphilly Council, marched through Blackwood to demonstrate their opposition, and blockaded the site to prevent its partial demolition, since the project was first proposed by Newport-based Fairlake Properties Limited in 2005.

The council's decision to refuse planning permission, against the recommendation of its own planning officers, was overturned by planning inspector Hywel Wyn Jones, who heard the arguments for and against at an inquiry in May.

Dismay was palpable among campaigners as details of the decision filtered through.

Pat Lambeth, of Garfield Street, predicted at least a year of noise, dust and disruption while Highbury House is transformed for its new role, for which she remains convinced it is unsuitable.

"It's a great shame. There will be lots of people, particularly the elderly, very upset, as I am," she said.

Fellow protester Keith Smallman, of Highbury Drive, said the centre is the "right project in the wrong location."

"We've fought this very hard, but we must move on and seek to work with the developers as best we can. It must be a two-way process," he said.

No-one from Fairlake was available for comment.

Mr Jones' decision to uphold the company's appeal is based on his conclusion that a likely increase in traffic will not have unacceptable implications for people in Highbury Drive, and in Garfield Street, from where disabled and wheelchair access will be available.

Crucially too, while acknowledging fears that the proposed centre might give rise to problems of "criminal and anti-social behaviour" he ruled that it will not be incompatible with the surrounding area.

He concluded: "It is not for me to determine whether or not this is the best possible location; however, from a planning point of view I find that it is a suitable location."

Independent county borough councillor Kevin Etheridge said he is "appalled and distraught" for residents, that their efforts have counted for nothing.

But former councillor Nigel Dix, who believes he lost his seat over the issue at the May elections, called the inspector's decision a victory over "a campaign of bigotry and misinformation."