Councillors will decide tomorrow how to respond to a petition against a controversial drug and alcohol recovery hub in Weymouth. 

Dorset County Council (DCC) will hold a panel tomorrow to decide action after being presented with a petition of more than 700 signatures, opposing the conversion of a guest house at 22 Abbotsbury Road into the recovery hub. 

The hub aims to get people back in to a normal life and up to six people will be able to stay overnight in the facility for short periods of around a week while they undergo detox or access support.

However, residents raised concerns at a public meeting in February the hub would increase antisocial behaviour and drug dealing and the visible presence of the service users could negatively impact neighbouring businesses. 

But a statement from Dorset Police said crime levels associated with centres were very low due to the high police presence and the council predicted crime in the area could actually reduce as a result. 

A petition organised by John Richards, who runs Warwick Guest House on Abbotsbury Road, was presented to DCC during a full meeting on July 20, stating the proposed location was inadequate, inappropriate and urged the council to reconsider.

Tomorrow the Mr Richards will present the petition to a panel which who will decide if they will grant the petition request.

If the request is not granted, the council must conclude response action which may include: 

  • considering the petition at a council meeting
  • holding an inquiry
  • undertaking further research 
  • holding a public meeting or consultation
  • referring the petition for consideration by the council’s Audit and Governance Committee
  • calling a referendum

Cllr Steve Butler, Dorset County Council Cabinet member for safeguarding, said: “I look forward to meeting with Mr Richards to hear local residents’ views on the proposal for a recovery hub on Abbotsbury Road and discussing his petition with councillors.”

The petition panel comes after the council officially lodged a ‘change of use’ application on September 9. 

The public have until October 13 to raise concerns, when the public consultation ends and the application will be considered by DCC’s Regulatory Committee in due course. 

Since it was submitted, the application has received 50 objections and one declaration of support. 

One objection said: “While it’s good that recovering addicts get the support they need under one roof, to put it in an area so dependent on tourism - with so many B&Bs in the surrounding streets - is unbelievably reckless.” 

Another simply stated: “Livelihoods will be destroyed.”

The rates of drug use in Weymouth are double that in the county as a whole, and more than 40 per cent of those who currently access treatment in Dorset live in Weymouth and Portland.

DCC has won funding of £620,000 from Public Health England to fund the project.