Health bosses ‘considering best move forward’ for relocation of Llanelli drug and alcohol service
It has been three months since plans to relocate the service from the town centre to North Dock were rejected
Pictured above: The former WRW building in North Dock which is earmarked for the Dyfed Drug and Alcohol Service (DDAS) (Photo: Google Maps)
Health bosses say they are "considering the best move forward" for the proposed relocation of a Llanelli drug and alcohol service.
The controversial plans to relocate the Dyfed Drug and Alcohol Service (DDAS) from Vaughan Street in the town centre to North Dock were rejected by Carmarthenshire Council planning committee in September.
The relocation was to be part of a wider plan by Hywel Dda University Health Board (UHB) to house a number of services under one roof as part of a health ad wellbeing centre at the former WRW building at Anchor Point.
The planning application was made by Hywel Dda on behalf of the Dyfed Area Planning Board (APB).
The APB is its own multi-agency body - which funds DDAS - and is responsible for supporting the planning, commissioning and performance management of substance misuse services.
It is made up of representatives from Hywel Dda University Health Board, Carmarthenshire, Ceredigion and Pembrokeshire county councils, Dyfed-Powys Police and other partner organisations.
There were scores of objection letters to the North Dock site, including from Llanelli Town Council, with concerns including the centre's potential impact both on North Dock businesses and the area's appeal for tourists, kayakers and swimmers.
Objectors also raised antisocial behaviour fears, and water safety risks for drug users being helped by the DDAS.
In October, Labour's leader on Carmarthenshire Council urged health chiefs to work with the community to find a suitable site for a drug and alcohol support service in Llanelli.
Cllr Rob James said at the time: "Councillors have been pressing for the centre to be moved outside of the town centre to support regeneration plans for many years, yet the alternative location identified had significant issues.
"We have been helpful and provided suggestions on more suitable locations for DDAS to relocate to.
"I now hope they (Hywel Dda and Area Planning Board) engage with the local community and its partners."
More than two months on from his call, there appears to have been little progress.
When asked where the health board was with the matter, Hywel Dda's executive director of public health, Dr Ardiana Gjini, said: "Since the application for the centre in Llanelli was turned down by the planning authority in September, we have been considering how we can best move forward with our plans for the future of the health and wellbeing centre in the area.
"We hope to be able to share these plans soon.
“We are committed to delivering effectively wellbeing services for the population of Carmarthenshire which would provide a range of health services to the local community including health coaching, smoking cessation and general wellbeing support."
