PLANS to turn offices in York into a social day care centre to help drug addicts and convicted criminals have been given the go-ahead - despite local concerns.

The North Yorkshire Drugs Action Team has hired Crime Reduction Initiatives (CRI) to run the centre at 9/10 Tower Street, opposite Clifford's Tower.

The centre will provide structured care for "offenders, people with addictions, individuals at risk of criminal involvement and those whose lifestyle is placing them and others in danger of harm".

Members of City of York Council's city centre planning committee voted unanimously to approve the scheme, which is designed to assist offenders "break out of cycles of damaging behaviour" and help reintegrate them back into society.

But people in neighbouring properties have objected to the centre, claiming it would present a security risk for them.

They say its entrance would make an "excellent" trading or drug-taking area close to, but not visible, from the street and outside the authority of the day centre organisers. Other concerns over the plan are that it may result in an "unhappy mix" of people around Clifford's Tower, including tourists, convicted criminals and drug users and that good behaviour could not be guaranteed.

But in a report to councillors, the applicants say security is a high-priority and CCTV and door entry communication systems will be introduced.

Staff will be present at the centre from Monday to Friday, from 9am to 5.30pm, and a maximum of 12 clients would attend at any one time for a period of approximately 12 weeks.

Clients will only be seen by appointment only and not on a "drop-in" basis.

Coun David Evans told the meeting: "This was never going to be popular, but it's pretty much in the best place it could be."

Coun Ruth Potter said the centre could organise its space appropriately in order to "allay the fears" of worried neighbours.

Updated: 09:29 Saturday, September 04, 2004