Keighley MP Ann Cryer is urging the boss of a planned drug-rehabilitation centre to consult concerned residents.

People living near the proposed centre, in Woodville Road, Keighley, have hit out at the plan. They believe it will lower the value of their property and lead to drug dealers operating in their area.

A public meeting with representatives of Teen Challenge, the Christian drug rehabilitation group which will run the centre, has been called for.

But Pastor John Macey, UK leader of the organisation which has centres all over the world, says he will only meet with elected councillors.

Now MP Mrs Cryer is urging Pastor Macey to take part in talks. She has written to Teen Challenge requesting this.

She says: "I am not opposing the idea of a rehab and detox centre. I think it would help to talk to people who are anxious about it, to answer their queries and put their minds at rest. I think people in that area are in more danger from people under the influence of drugs and those dealing and pushing drugs. They have less to worry about with people who voluntarily go into a centre like that."

She feels that any threat to Woodville Road residents regarding drugs comes from what is already there.

"It would be in the interests of Teen Challenge to meet with people who live in the area, even to talk to a group of spokespersons," she says. "It can get a bit hair-raising if you have a mass meeting. Members of that community could appoint a number of people - perhaps a dozen - and ask them to address their anxieties. I am not sitting on the fence, but I can see both sides of the argument."

She praises the work of Teen Challenge. "They are doing a good turn for families in the UK, because there's a shortage of such centres," Mrs Cryer says.

"The supply of such treatment on the health services is so limited, because it's expensive. I am sure that they will have the interest of the community at heart.

"I have had good reports and talked to parents who have had children go there and they have spoken very highly about it."

If residents learned exactly how Teen Challenge operates, she feels that they would be more accepting of the centre.

"I support it in principle, but they have got to get together and address the anxieties of people - it can only work with a relationship between the people running it and the neighbours," she says.

We asked Teen Challenge for a response but the organisation declined, saying it was too soon to comment.

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