News from Westminster Labour

Westminster Tories close down vital Paddington drug project

Decisions by Westminster Conservatives mean that The Caravan Project, next to St. Mary’s Hospital in Paddington, is set to close on the 31st August 2010. The Project provides a vital resource for recovering drug and alcohol addicts. The threat of closure has come as a blow to the 200 service users of the Caravan Project which provides a safe area (away from street drug dealers) for users and gives assurance to those people who may need emergency medical treatment, due to its proximity to St. Mary’s Hospital. The service users have developed important social links over the years and play an important role in developing the service along with the professional support at the centre. The site of the Caravan Project is on NHS land and is rent free to the Council.

The service users are organising a petition urging the Council to rescind the decision to close the Caravan Project. The closure is because Westminster Council has negotiated a new contract which will offer a new drop in provision, some distance away from St Mary’s Hospital, in Harrow Road, W9.

Labour Councillor Guthrie McKie, who represents Harrow Road, says: “This is a detrimental step in the provision of support and care for people seeking recovery from drug and alcohol abuse. People in this situation need certainty and clear patterns in their lives. Many of them have developed strong supportive links with other people at the Project. There is a strong feeling of ownership by users of the values of the project. Closure of the Project would have a devastating effect on the lives of vulnerable people. I urge the Council and the NHS to look at ways in which this Project can continue.”

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