Town council leader’s Drug rehabilitation centre comments described as ‘disappointing’ and ‘reckless’

The comments came after Labour’s Llanelli Town Council Leader and County Councillor David Darkin hit back at proposals to relocate a drug rehabilitation service to a busy out-of-town shopping area.

Llanelli’s Drug & Alcohol Service (DDAS) was originally proposed to move to the former WRW Anchor Point office at North Dock. However, more than 200 people had protested against Hywel Dda University Health Board’s plans amid claims the centre would pose a danger to local residents, particularly with its proximity to a nearby playground.

The service currently provides support for over-18s from the first floor of Boots on Vaughan Street in Llanelli Town Centre. Carmarthenshire County Council was reported to be considering its Ty’r Nant property in Trostre as a new home for the service after it rejected proposals by supermarket Lidl to build a new store on the site.

The move to Trostre was supported by local independent councillors Sean Rees and Louvain Roberts, who were part of the campaign against the service being located in North Dock.

Cllr Darkin, however suggested that Cllr’s Rees and Roberts were “trying to offload a difficult matter to a different ward without giving careful consideration”.

The Glanymor Ward councillors have since hit back at Cllr Darkin’s comments saying he is compromising any public consultation before it even starts.

Sean Rees and Louvain Roberts, County Councillors for Glanymor Ward said: “The comments made by the Labour-led Town Council leader are disappointing and reckless to say the least.

“The Ty’r Nant building was suggested as it meets the ‘Area Planning Board’ criteria of being on a public transport network, having adequate parking facilities and has previously been used as a health facility.

“From the very start of this process, we have called for a full public consultation to take place. This will need to include a full risk and community impact assessment to be undertaken on any proposed site too.

“Given the Labour group have now stated they don’t want DDAS to be relocated to Ty’r Nant, they need to be clear with everyone about exactly where they would locate it.

“By going against the only alternative currently on the table, not only have they compromised any public consultation before it even starts but have also run the risk of the coastline being back on the agenda should another unit become available or the facility being kept in the Town Centre itself.

“The Labour group and Cllr Darkin as its Leader must be clear here – are they suggesting that the service should be relocated to a residential neighbourhood within Llanelli instead?

“A solution needs to be found but it must be one which works for clients who use the service but also considers the impact to our communities as a whole.”

#CllrLouvainRoberts #CllrSeanRees #DavidDarkin #drugAndAlcoholService #HywelDdaNHS #Llanelli #LlanelliTownCouncil #Trostre

Town Council Leader criticises proposals to move drug rehabilitation centre to popular Llanelli retail park

Llanelli’s Drug & Alcohol Service (DDAS) was originally proposed to move to the former WRW Anchor Point office at North Dock. However, more than 200 people had protested against Hywel Dda University Health Board’s plans amid claims the centre would pose a danger to local residents, particularly with its proximity to a nearby playground.

Carmarthenshire Council’s planning committee subsequently rejected the proposals, and despite the health board planning to appeal the decision, the building was leased to Threshold DAS, an organisation aimed at supporting people affected by domestic abuse.

The service, which provides support for over-18s from the first floor of Boots on Vaughan Street in Llanelli Town Centre, isn’t considered ideal due to the council’s town centre regeneration plans.

Still looking for a new home for the DDAS, the County Council was reported to be considering its Ty’r Nant property in Trostre after it rejected proposals by supermarket Lidl to build a new store on the site, along with a drive-through Tim Hortons coffee outlet.

The move to Trostre was supported by local independent councillors Sean Rees and Louvain Roberts, who were part of the campaign against the service being located in North Dock.

However the Labour Llanelli Town Council leader and County Councillor, David Darkin has claimed his fellow councillors were trying to “offload” the drug rehabilitation centre to a different ward, and said that he had to learn of the proposals through the media rather than being informed by Carmarthenshire Council – despite being the local elected member.

Mr Darkin said: “Trostre is a thriving retail hub, predominantly accessed by car, too far away from the population that need to access the service. A cynical person may suggest the Sean and Louvain were trying to offload a difficult matter to a different ward without giving careful consideration.

“We need DDAS, they provide an essential service and they do a fantastic job; Our community would be much poorer without them. Llanelli needs the service to be located somewhere that works for the service users and the community. For many years, I’ve suggested that the key stakeholders such as DDAS, CCC, LTC, Police and HDUHB meet and agree a location.

“Despite being an elected member for this ward, I learnt about this proposal through the media, not from CCC. This isn’t good enough; CCC should properly consult with the people of Llanelli, not just make decisions from Carmarthen.”

Hywel Dda University Health Board’s Director of Strategy and Planning Lee Davies said: “The area planning board is continuing the search for a suitable premises for our intended health improvement and wellbeing centre and the Ty’r Nant building is one of those under consideration.

“No decisions have been made yet as consideration of feasibility of this potential venue is at an early stage. However, we continue to believe a new health improvement and well-being centre in Llanelli is essential to the health board’s strategy of shifting services from treating illness, to promoting and supporting wellness, working with partners, patients and public to enable our community to enjoy a healthy lifestyle and tackle the leading causes of preventable ill health and early death.”

Swansea Bay News has asked Cllrs Sean Rees and Louvain Roberts.

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Councillors call for Llanelli drugs and alcohol unit to move to Trostre

Hywel Dda Health Board are to appeal against the decision of Carmarthenshire County Council ‘Planning Committee’ refusal to relocate Llanelli Drug & Alcohol Service (DDAS) to the former WRW Anchor Point Unit at North Dock. An Inspector has now been appointed by Welsh Government ministers to decide if this will go ahead.

Sean Rees and Louvain Roberts, Independent County Councillors for the Glanymor Ward have expressed concerns at the way the situation continues to be handled and have urged Carmarthenshire County Council, Hywel Dda Health Board and the Welsh Government to explore all of the options available to them before a decision is reached on the relocation of the service.

The councillors say that where they fully recognise the need for the service to leave the town centre, it has been highlighted how the beach area which is a residential, recreational, tourist and business area in nature is not suitable given there is a children playground and a dock itself which presents a number of health & safety concerns which must be addressed under a duty of care for both clients who would use the service and members of the community.

A Freedom of Information request submitted by the Councillors has also revealed that the total funding to be granted for the move to North Dock and the Beach area is £860,000 from the Welsh Government ‘Substance Misuse Action Fund (SMAF) Capital Programme. It has further been revealed that an alternative location put forward that of the Ty’r Nant building in Trostre is structurally sound and can be brought back into use should it be considered as an option by the Health Board.

The County Council is currently looking at alternative options for the Ty’r Nant property after it rejected proposals by supermarket Lidl to build a new store on the site, along with a drive-through Tim Hortons coffee outlet.

The Planning Hearing Appeal is taking place on Wednesday 30th April starting at 9.30am in the Selwyn Samuel Centre. A protest has been organised outside the venue from 8.45am on the day.  

Councillors Rees and Roberts said: “We feel strongly that not all options have been considered. The Ty’r Nant building ticks all the boxes in terms of meeting requirements needed for this service and should be considered. Despite requests being made, no Risk Assessment nor that of a Community Impact Assessment have been undertaken. All of us have a duty of care to our residents and to visitors to the area. The health & safety of everyone has to come first.

“Following a review undertaken just earlier this year, evidence has been presented showing an increase in reported crime within the locality. This led to the North Dock area now being covered by a Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO). This is also enforced by Dyfed-Powys Police. A very clear message has been sent to the ‘Area Planning Board’. They do not have public confidence on side and their proposal has already been overwhelmingly rejected by both our community and by members of the Planning Committee. 

“We will continue to challenge this appeal and are prepared to explore all options available to us. We are now urging all the powers that be to look at the alternative suggestions in the interests of everyone.”

Dr Ardiana Gjini, Executive Director of Public Health at Hywel Dda University Health Board said: “Following consideration with our partners, we have come to the conclusion that there is a need for a Health and Well-being Centre in Carmarthenshire and that the Anchor Point building in North Dock is the best place for this.

“A new health improvement and well-being centre in Llanelli is essential to the health board’s strategy of shifting services from treating illness, to promoting and supporting wellness, working with partners, communities, patients and public to enable our community to enjoy a healthy lifestyle and tackle the leading causes of preventable ill health and early death.

“Smoking, alcohol and drug misuse are among the leading causes of preventable ill health and early death and tackling these issues are strategic priorities for the health board and members of the Area Planning Board.

“We engaged with the local community at the time of the original application and although some concerns were raised, there was also support shown for the plans by the local community during the consultation events and at the planning committee.

“The health board will continue to engage with the local community regarding this proposed development.”

#CllrLouvainRoberts #CllrSeanRees #drugAndAlcoholService #featured #HywelDdaNHS #Llanelli #NorthDock #Trostre