THE campaign to stop a drugs and alcohol drop-in help centre from opening in a town centre is growing.

Richard Stone, who lives near the proposed site of the centre in Trinity Place, off Bexleyheath Broadway, has already collected more than 800 signatures on his protest petition.

Guy's And Lewisham Mental Health Trust wants to convert the ground floor of the former tax office to provide services such as needle exchanges, AIDS and other testing and a drop-in centre.

Despite a public meeting last month where Signpost, which will run the centre, explained its plans, opposition from its would-be neighbours has continued.

Signpost says the former tax office is the best premises it has found to relocate its facilities for Bexley people from its present site at Shooters Hill.

But local people say even though Trinity Place is just off the town centre and easy to get to on public transport, it would not be a good location.

They say the area is riddled with alleyways and is home to many children's and youth groups, as well as two schools.

Residents also claim few people knew about the plan or the public meeting.

Mr Stone says he found more than 100 letters from the trust addressed to local people stuffed into a wastebin.

He said people were worried about children picking up syringes, drug dealers targeting the area and incidents involving people in need of help who turn up at the centre when it is closed.

He said that while people accepted such a centre was needed, Trinity Place was not suitable. And he added: "Everyone is really worried."

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