PLANS are under way to site Andover's much-needed substance and misuse housing project in premises along Bridge Street - after a bid to use land in Harrow Way failed.
Test Valley Borough Council and developers Ashley Homes withdrew from the initial project earlier this year after a steering group set up to oversee the scheme concluded it had grown beyond its original concept and in reality had become too big.
The partnership also faced massive criticism from Harrow Way residents who did not want the facility sited in such a residential area.
"Following the Harrow Way experience the steering group revisited the model of support and care and decided it would be far better to have a core base, comprising eight to ten rooms with 24 hour support, and a series of satellite rooms throughout the town," said Brian Cowcher, head of housing at Test Valley.
"We have identified premises in Bridge Street which used to be old council offices and we're proposing to renovate them to accommodate eight rooms," he said.
"In many respects this site is far better than the one at Harrow Way because it's right in the town centre with services on its doorstep and the right mixed environment for the clients.
"Also, from a public point of view the police station is just at the back and there is CCTV coverage as well. I must stress for the council this is not really an issue, rather it was something that kept cropping up at previous public meetings. The people who'll use this scheme do not present a high risk to the community," he said.
Council planners will decide this month whether or not to give the scheme the green light, but the premises already have permission for residential use.
A main concern with the Harrow Way proposals was a fear that clients from outside the area would be using the scheme, something which Brian Cowcher disputes.
"There is a drug and alcohol problem in Test Valley and we need to be dealing with it in a planned and organised way.
This is a project for local people funded by the local authority."
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