Street drinkers treatment unit in Lincoln ready to welcome first users
A £2 million residential treatment centre for street drinkers in Lincoln will welcome its first service users next summer.
The four storey, 15-bed facility will be built on the corner of St Rumbold's Street and Friars Lane. Framework housing association was granted planning permission for the project last week.
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The treatment centre will be at the former Autoglass garage on St Rumbolds Street and Friars Road.
It replaces an earlier proposal for South Park, Lincoln, which was strongly opposed by residents fearing antisocial behaviour.
The nearest houses to the new development on the old Autoglass site are a handful north along Friars Lane and on the south side of St Rumbold's Street. Service users will enter the unit from the city centre without passing existing houses.
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John East, 67, of Clarina Street, Lincoln, and chairman of Monks Road Neighbourhood Initiative, said: "These facilities are desperately needed. I suspect even this won't be enough but it's a start.
"It's probably true that no one wants this in their backyard.
"There are only a few houses nearby so this is probably the best location they can find."
Framework says that since the Pathways Centre in Beaumont Fee opened two years ago, 28 of the 65 homeless people it has dealt with have declared an alcohol problem.
The new facility is based on the highly effective Michael Varnam House service in Nottingham and aims to help street drinkers change their ways and live sustainable, independent lives in the community.
Framework chief executive Andrew Redfern said: "Street drinking is a serious problem in Lincoln – for the city and for the drinkers themselves.
"Substantial efforts are being made by a number of agencies to address the problem and this development is part of a long-term solution that we believe will save a considerable amount of public money in years to come.
"I am delighted that members of the council's planning committee voted unanimously in favour of it.
"In doing so they have recognised our experience and strong track record in working with people who are alcohol dependent.
"We look forward to working with them and others to turn this scheme into a successful community asset."
Charity fundraiser Hayley Child, 28, of South Park, said the new site will be much more suitable.
"Being in the city centre will be a lot better for Framework and people using the support service because it's closer to all the other services," she said.
"It is a great service but you cannot have something like that in a residential area."
Vic Hughes, a member of South Park Residents' Association, said: "It is better that it's not going to be built in a residential area like here but I feel sorry for the people in the new Premier Inn – they're not going to be happy.
"God help the people of St Rumbold's Street – this is doomed to disaster."
8 Comments
by Phil1W
Tuesday, March 12 2013, 2:17PM
“There are probably no more residential properties along South Park close to where this would have been. Its just that the handful of residential properties along Rumbold Street and Friars Lane are much smaller and cheaper properties and prbably more rented accomodation. Therefore considered lower class residents who will have to put up with the drunks etc.
And if one of the Rumbold Street or Friars Lane residents see's one of the facilities users approaching it past their homes what will be done about it? What can be done about it?
And when I walk into town with my young grandsons and many other parents etc walk past here into to town with children and "anti-social behaviour" is occuring what will be done? Do we want our children to see this happening?”
by Rayvhard
Tuesday, March 12 2013, 12:56PM
“I bet its a gas chamber really. Come in old boy take a nice shower.”
by thompma30
Tuesday, March 12 2013, 12:14PM
“Why not use the old Barbican Hotel on St Mary's Street?
Its ready made for accommodation and kitchen facilities, and I'm sure the Coop would love to have a new tenant. Just a lick of paint and away you go.”
by oinkment
Tuesday, March 12 2013, 11:39AM
“Are the council collectively insane? Next to a tourist facility, a hotel? Next to an all-weather drinking shelter, the carpark? Over the road from a summer drinking facility, St. Swithin's Square? Within reach of an off-licence, anywhere in Lincoln?
I think this constitutes the biggest mistake to affect Lincoln since the decision to build half a bypass.”
by peterke
Tuesday, March 12 2013, 10:58AM
“"Derp_Lincoln" If the council isnt paying for this then would you like to tell us who is. If its not the council or taxpayers money then those who give to the charity will i,m sure be happy to know that theyre paying for chief executives and other bosses and their cars etc along the way. Thats a reason i dont give to charitys.”
by Derp_Lincoln
Tuesday, March 12 2013, 9:34AM
“"So nice of the council to implement charges for garden waste removal and then throw all the money it makes into this 'so worthwhile' project."
Except that the council aren't paying for it, but don't let facts get in the way of your slobbering, will you? Hurrrrrrrrrr!”
by Marbo1
Tuesday, March 12 2013, 9:18AM
“"Charity fundraiser Hayley Child, 28, of South Park, said the new site will be much more suitable"
Namely because it will "Not Be In My Back Yard" was surely left out of that quote.
Vic Hughes has pretty much hit the nail on the head here, although the service will be a help to the people who seriously want to take part. The location is still not right. Next to a new hotel and still in a residential area.
"The nearest houses to the new development on the old Autoglass site are a handful north along Friars Lane and on the south side of St Rumbold's Street. Service users will enter the unit from the city centre without passing existing houses."
Who decided that it was ok for this "handful" of familys to be subjected to this while the familys on South Park should not be and who actually believes the users will enter the unit from the city centre and steer clear of the residential area next to it, with its shops selling alcohol and a number of public houses.
I'd like to be proved wrong but i dont feel this project will improve the area or the image people visting th ecity will take away with them...”
by modchild
Tuesday, March 12 2013, 8:21AM
“So nice of the council to implement charges for garden waste removal and then throw all the money it makes into this 'so worthwhile' project. Nice to know where our hard earned money is going. It's things like this that are likely to drive me to drink.”