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DRUG treatment centres should be spread across Bournemouth in a bid to give Boscombe "breathing space", say local residents.

Boscombe Forum committee member Gary Sherborne said: "The war on drugs has failed. Addicts kill and rob each other - it's horrible."

During a heated discussion on drugs at the May Forum meeting he added: We have more treatment centres here than anywhere else.

"Maybe it's time to let go and give Boscombe breathing space."

Steve Spiegel, a founder of the Boscombe-based Providence Project, said: "Drugs can cause misery for the whole community. I can fully understand people's fears and the reluctance to have treatment centres in your town.

"But we have never had an official complaint. Everyone deserves a chance. It took me ten years to get off drugs - it was a real battle.

"We have imported people from other areas; about 40 per cent return to where they came from. We have been full since we started 12 years ago and had 3,000 clients. We can only keep tabs on the ones who are clean.

"Recently we had three teachers going through treatment.

Boscombe trader Martin Eldridge said he had employed a number of recovering addicts. "I've never had one who was a native of Bournemouth, let alone Boscombe."

Dave Thompson from Action on Addiction said: "I think we have brought something positive to the local community. A lot of business people have gone through our centres. About 70 per cent complete the programme."

Chairperson Kathie Pearce said: "There is a lot of paranoia about people coming into Bournemouth, many come here because it is a beautiful place.

"We have got a crisis on our hands with drug addictions, drug problems and their impact on local communities."

Local resident and forum member Pat Clark said: "Where I live I see people pulling up and stuff being handed out blatantly.

"There are far too many drug treatment centres here; we should be concentrating more on the needs of young families."

7:00pm Wednesday 14th May 2008

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