Rehab centre asks for four more years

Earlier this month, we reported that a way forward had been found for the proposed drug treatment centre on Shardeloes Road that seemed to suit both supporters and skeptics. The planning committee ruled that the centre should be given a year to prove itself, after which time its licence to operate would be reviewed.

However, the South London Press now reports that the operators of the proposed centre - CRI - have appealed the decision, asking instead for five years:

CRI has now submitted an application to the council to extend the permission to five years and the opening hours until 8pm on Mondays to Fridays.

Rupert King, of the Brockley Cross Action Group said: “CRI have repeatedly claimed there will be no problems once the new treatment centre is open so why is the one-year permission now unacceptable to them?"...

Darren Johnson, Brockley ward councillor, said: “Although I support the drug and alcohol centre [the original decision] gives them a year to prove themselves to local residents that the centre can be a good neighbour.”

As King and Johnson both suggest, if CRI are confident of their original claims that the centre could be run in a residential area without creating any problems, then the one year trial should not cause them any concerns. The only uncertainty it creates for them is directly related to their own performance.

The one year trial should remain.