[jaysay]

Originally Posted by Taggy

Aye...tree lined street...with accompanying dog muck, thanks to some inconsiderate dog owners, who think its acceptable for their pets to empty their bowels on the grass verges. But thats another rant!....Obviously, i too dont think Avenue Parade was the Obvious place. It was only Obviously the correct place to the PCT, who did'nt attempt to consider the problems of placing this unit in a built up residential area. Its took a protest to change their minds, and awaken the Council. The PCT had a "we know best" attitude. And as we've come to see with the incompetant rearranging of services at Burnley General, Royal Blackburn and Pendle Community Hospitals, the PCT DONT always know best. Its all well and good having sympathy for Alcohol/Drug addicts, but the needs and wellbeing of all the community have to be given priority. Why is it always minorities that dicate the agenda these days? The PCT have a duty of care to all of us, particularily those who will be directly affected by their services. Its obvious that the PCT must have earmarked Avenue Parade long ago...whilst they were still designing the costly new health centres, encouraging the Doctors who were in Peel House to move there. Interesting that not many other Doctors have taken up the offers!! I still think the best place for it would be the PALS centre, of the ones that have so far been mentioned. But again thats just my personal opinion. As far as the unit at the corner of Nuttall Street/Wellington Street is concerned, i think that this building is already owned by the PCT, it offers Counselling/Mental Health Services. If we were comparing it directly with Avenue Parade, again I would still say this is more suitable, as its not as residential as Avenue Parade, is more set back, and could perhaps have the scope to be shielded further by Trees/Hedging etc. But if that place was proposed, and if the residents there strongly objected, i would be happy to support their objections, and sign any petition which was organised.

Best Regards - Taggy

Of course the PCT thought the Avenue Parade site ideal for this unit, but you can bet your bottom dollar none of them live within miles of Avenue Parade, or maybe Accrington itself, but one thing is for sure they wouldn't be voting to have it sited anwhere near any of their homes anytime soon