Blast over drug centre site plans
PLANS for the UK’s first safe drug injecting centre in Glasgow have attracted criticisms over a lack of public consultation.
An area of the city has been identified between Trongate and the Saltmarket, though the exact site for the centre has not yet been revealed.
Community representatives hit out, saying they needed peoples’ opinions.
PLANS for the UK’s first safe drug injecting centre in Glasgow have attracted criticisms there has been a lack of public consultation over the chosen location.
An area of the city has been identified beside the Clyde between Trongate and the Saltmarket, however the exact site for the centre, which aims to cut drug deaths, has not yet been revealed.
Figures not due to be released until August are expected to show a rise in drug deaths and HIV infections across Scotland.
At a meeting of the board yesterday, which is leading the plans, no objections were made by members about the proposed site area.
However, Ann Souter, community representative, was critical that there had been little or no engagement with residents or businesses.
She said: “I think that we need to get peoples’ opinions, who are going to be living next to this. I think that’s very important. The engagement process is paramount.
“That should have been done first rather than last in my opinion.”
Cecelia O’Lone, new Labour councillor for the Calton area, said she had been contacted by residents about the location.
She said: “I’ve got people asking me about where it’s going to be but it’s not been made known to us.
“There is a bit of concern. They have to be more forthcoming.”
A spokesman for the board said engagement would start when a definite site had been identified.
Some concern was expressed about the age range the services will be offered to.
Over 16s will be able to self-refer for the ‘safe inhalation’ service, which will allow drug users to smoke heroin.
Only those over the age of 18 referred by doctors will be able to use the injecting service due to licensing laws.
Councillor Mhairi Hunter said clarity over the age restriction and target client base was crucial to win public support for the plans.
She said: “We need to be really careful about what’s in this paper, in terms of saying it is for those over the age 16 who are obtaining illicit drugs and not giving the impression that a 17-year-old can just rock up and start using heroin.”
Concerns were also raised that the plan could move forward to purchasing and fitting out the site, only to be scuppered by a legal issue.
The Safer Drug Consumption Facility is dependent on a legal exemption for the facility which wallows users to take street drugs they have bought safely, under medical supervision.
In Dublin, where a similar service operates, the laws on prosecution were changed before the centre opened.
Ms Millar said: “It is a risk. I can’t predict what the Lord Advocate will say. We’ve not been in this situation before.
“However, we are following a clear strategy from the Crown Office.” She said the board were in the process of writing to the Crown Office.