RESIDENTS are urging planners to scrutinise proposals for an alternative therapies centre in Boscombe to ensure they are not landed with another drug rehabilitation unit.

A planning application has sparked fears that an existing therapy and counselling centre in Carysfort Road is to be turned into a drug addiction treatment centre.

Today (August 16), councillors will decide whether to grant the Providence Surgery and associated projects sole use of the centre.

Planners say they have received assurances that the centre will not be aimed at any one group of society.

But residents and ward councillors remain suspicious.

Cllr Philip Stanley-Watts, who hit the headlines when he admitted he was fed up with living amongst a high number of rehabilitation centres, said he believed it would be turned into a rehabilitation centre.

"Unfortunately that's not a valid reason to turn down the application so instead, I hope councillors will turn it down on the grounds that it is an unsuitable location and will have a detrimental affect on parking," he said.

Ten objections to the application have been received, including one from Jack McGuire, chairman of the Walpole Area Residents' Association.

He said there were too many rehabilitation centres in Boscombe already and said that as a residential area, Carysfort Road was an unsuitable location.

And he added: "This being so, a clinic for drug rehabilitation is not only not conducive to family life but also highly objectionable."

Boscombe United Action Group has asked for the application to be thoroughly checked before permission is granted. And Cllr Robert Copeland has objected to the centre being made residential and extra practicioners operating from the site.

On the Providence Projects' website, their mission statement reads: "The Providence Projects provide effective treatment and support services for alcohol and other drug dependency in order to help men, women and families begin the process of recovery."

Both the doctors who submitted the application declined to comment to the Daily Echo.

First published: August 16