Opponents derail Welsh rehab plans

Objections from councillors and residents are thwarting the development of residential rehabilitation services for people with substance misuse problems in Wales.

Over the past two years the Welsh assembly has been unable to spend all £4m of a social housing grant set aside each year for rehab capital projects because proposals put forward by local authorities and registered social landlords have been turned down at planning committee stage.

Residents concerned about the development of rehab facilities in their communities have launched campaigns and drawn up petitions to block plans, even though many of the services are intended to help local people.

The assembly has approved schemes in each of the 22 Welsh local authority areas this year, totalling the full £4m and providing a possible 263 additional spaces, but it is unsure how many have been granted locally.