A CHARITY is appealing against the refusal of planning permission for a new support centre for drug addicts, homeless people and domestic violence victims.

The controversial plan to convert an office in Lansdowne Road, Bournemouth, into an advice and counselling centre drew 28 letters of objection including council leader Stephen MacLoughlin, fellow ward councillor Bob Chapman, East Cliff Residents’ Association and a nearby synagogue.

Traders and residents also complained, claiming the centre would be the final nail in the coffin for the area.

The charity behind the plans, Crime Reduction Initiatives, in Oxford Road, needs larger premises. It says it had not received a single complaint about antisocial behaviour or drug dealing and stressed it would not jeopardise the safety of residents.

Planning officers recommended approving the scheme. The application also won the backing of Police.uk/" target="_blank">Dorset Police.

Chairman Cllr John Beesley used his casting vote to support the refusal. Now the application is to be decided by a planning inspector.

In correspondence to the planning inspectorate, Cllr Ron Whittaker, who seconded the move to refuse permission for the scheme, said: “The loss of office accommodation must be resisted.

“We know substantial objections have been made from local traders who have invested heavily in turning their individual businesses around.

“This part of Lansdowne Road is characterised as a secondary shopping area and, more importantly, located within the tourism core area.”

Town centre ward councillor David Smith, who moved that the application be refused, said he regularly received complaints from people in the area who had been accosted.