PLANS TO BUILD DRUG CENTRE ABOVE PECKHAM MCDONALD'S

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23 May 2008

Area identified in report as ‘drug dealing hotspot’

By John Prendergast 

PLANS ARE in motion to build a drug intervention centre above McDonald’s in Peckham, with a council report on the issue stating the area is a 'drug dealing hot spot'.

The idea has been suggested by the Southwark Drug and Alcohol Action team, who identified the building as a location and have already brokered discussions with the restaurant chain, who are fully aware of the plans.

The report is an attempt to garner local opinion, as the action team feels that communities often feel uncomfortable with the centres.

It states that the centres can see a reduction in crime in these areas, and that the Badsworth Road project in Camberwell in fact received support from local businesses.

Despite this the Peckham Town Centre Management Group, who represent businesses in Peckham, have asked their members to respond to fears that the central location will lead to an increase in begging. It has also raised concerns that young people regularly attend McDonalds would come into contact with the centre’s clients.

A spokeswoman for McDonald’s said: "As with some of our High Street Restaurants, McDonald's is looking to rent out the space above our restaurant in Peckham. To this end, discussions over a potential lease agreement are taking place with solicitors working on behalf of Crime Reduction Initiative (CRI). As a modern, progressive and responsible business in Southwark, McDonald's is in a position to offer CRI the opportunity of premises that would support the local community in Peckham."

Eileen Conn, a member of the Peckham Residents’ Network, said: "There are two strands to this, there is no doubt this is an important service and is needed by people everywhere. The question to be answered is, is that the right place for it? I am trying to find out more information about how many people will use it and about out of hours work.

Until you get that it is hard to decide just what impact it might have."

Rod Craig, Director of Client Group Commissioning of the PCT, said: "This is a really positive development for Peckham. We have recognised that this is an area of high crime and high drug use area and we are proposing to introduce a service that will help reduce both drug dependency and crime. When we have spoken to local people previously before they have said they would prefer the introduction of these type of services in non residential areas.

We have listened to this and Rye Lane appears to reflect this view. 

“The service provider has submitted a planning application and we are currently talking to local people and businesses and other stakeholders about this, explaining how the service will work and seeking to resolve any issues that they might have. So far feedback is favourable.  We know the police and the council’s community safety team are in favour of the proposal and there seems to be a broad recognition that this type of service is needed. 

"We are really pleased to engage in a debate about drug misuse and how it is best treated in the community and are confident that this service can have a positive impact in the Peckham area."

To contribute to consultation email planning.applications@southwark.gov.uk by June 5, reference 08/AP/1068.

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