Protest against drug rehab site at Capel Coch

Oct 1 2008 by Elgan Hearn, Holyhead and Anglesey Mail

CONCERNED Capel Coch residents are expected to picket Anglesey Council offices today (Wednesday), as a protest against a drug and alcohol rehabilitation centre in the village.

Anglesey County Council planning committee are due to discuss a planning application submitted by drugs and alcohol agency CAIS to change Bryn Golau into a drug and alcohol rehabilitation and learning skills centre for up to 16 residents.

On August 6 members of the committee went to inspect the site.

Planning officers are recommending approval and in their report said they do not consider that the proposal would have a detrimental effect on the area.

The council has received 71 letters and a 271 signature petition against the proposal.

Hazel Shufflebotham of Capel Coch action group, said: “We’re going to be protesting outside the council offices at midday.

“It’s going to be a large rehab centre and Capel Coch is only a small village.

“It’s not NIMBYism – we feel there are more appropriate sites.

“They (CAIS) have a centre in Bangor where they can access educational facilities and shops.

“The residents of Bryn Golau would be bussed in and out to Bangor and Llangefni via a mini bus.

“The failure rate for these sites is 60% to 70% and we worry that people will be returning to their former ways and we will suffer the consequences.”

Mike Denman, director of strategy with CAIS: “The fact they are now taking part in a tough programme like this shows their commitment to changing their lives.

“Siting these centres in rural locations has proved successful in other areas of the country.

“In Bangor, when our clients with alcohol problems go out they see off-licences and pubs around them.

“It would be different in a rural location like this.”