Health board withdraws application for new drugs centre

Richard Evans, local democracy reporter

Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board has withdrawn plans for a new drug and alcohol centre but says it will resubmit the application.

Llandudno residents wrote to Conwy County Council’s planning department last month, objecting to the plans for Roslin on Nant y Gamar Road in Craig y Don, a former midwifery services building.

The plans include a substance misuse clinic with counselling rooms on the building’s ground floor and NHS office accommodation on the basement, first, and second floors.

Residents living nearby raised fears of anti-social behaviour and irresponsibly discarded needles a stone’s throw away from Ysgol Gogarth.

But this week the application was suddenly withdrawn, and the NHS board has now revealed the retraction is only temporary.

Discussions

Teresa Owen, the executive director responsible for the health board’s mental health and learning disabilities division, said: “The health board’s planning application has been withdrawn to allow discussions to take place with the local planning authority to establish what works require planning permission.

“We remain fully committed to delivering this much-needed refurbishment, which will enable us to provide a safe, welcoming, and recovery-focused environment for individuals who are actively working to address their substance misuse and improve their lives.

“Historically, this building hosted both mental health and substance misuse services, before being temporarily repurposed during the COVID-19 pandemic to support midwifery services. The planned refurbishment will enable us to deliver a substance misuse service Monday to Friday, between the hours of 9-5, which will play a crucial role in relapse prevention and reducing the harm that substance misuse can cause to individual users and the wider community.”

She added: “We’ve worked with local councillors and consulted with service user groups to ensure that the service meets the needs of both the individuals accessing it and the wider community. Refurbishments of other substance misuse service buildings in North Wales have led to significant improvements in service delivery, with individuals sharing that the enhanced environment helped them feel valued and supported throughout their recovery journey.”