Drug clinic and needle exchange move for old town post office

Addiction Dependency Solutions has submitted proposals to open the service in the town centre building in Church Street.

It comes after the same scheme earmarked for the former progressive working men's club, opposite the entrance to South Staffordshire College in Cannock, was called 'ludicrous' and thrown out by council planning bosses in February.

If given the go ahead, the One Recovery Staffordshire Service would be open five days a week for people aged over 19, with substance misuse problems.

The clinic would be next to Boots and Halifax and would provide a 'range of treatments and recovery options ' including doctor appointments and sterile injecting equipment.

But the central location for the clinic has been slammed by regeneration boss Councillor Diane Todd who said the building is not the right place for the service.

"Having this service by the bus station wasn't the right place but this isn't either," she said.

"I really won't be happy with it there. I know the service is looking for a new place but a central location is not right for the rest of the town.

"The people using this service are vulnerable and dependant and I would not feel comfortable having this service next to Boots and cash machines. I would urge them to look elsewhere, somewhere more discreet. Other people don't want or need to see this right in the middle of town.

"We have a good shopping area and I think having this in the centre will put people and businesses off coming to the town."

The clinic will have more than 500 users. There would be 13 members of support and clinical staff.

There is some support for the centre and its new planned location.

Cannock Council leader George Adamson said the service needs to be somewhere central.

"We do need this service and it needs to be somewhere in the town centre so that people can access," he said.

"It is a bit more secluded in Church Street than the previous proposal."

Bosses from Addiction Dependency Solutions say they operate a 'very positive service' and that negative behaviour by clients is rare.

The planning application states: "The likelihood of the effects impacting on the community outside of our premises are small. However, in order to ensure we take the needs of our local community in to account we have enacted local policies to monitor the areas surrounding our premises."

Last month a 12-bed supported house for recovering addicts opened in the town centre and the former Bistro 95 opened as a tea room run by service users.