Threats and abuse over plans for Falkirk addiction support centre

dailyrecord.co.uk:

The woman behind plans for a new centre offering vital addiction support has admitted she has faced threats and abuse over the plans.Sylvia Kay received "some threats" through phone calls and letters from some people who objected strongly to the plans, believing the facility would actually be a place where drugs would be taken."I got letters including one saying I should have died when I had cancer and that I should go back to my caravan," she said.Now Sylvia, who is the driving force behind the project, says she wants people to understand what will actually be happening in a new well-being centre in Hallglen, Falkirk.Formal objectors said they feared that it would lead to litter, noise and anti-social behaviour for neighbours.But while there were 27 objections to the new facility, in a former Hallglen shop, there were the same number of supporters who said the facility is desperately needed.The plans have now been approved by Falkirk Council, and the site will bring together existing mental health services that people can access quickly and easily.And Sylvia wants to reassure people that the new premises, which will be in 26 Nairn Court, will not involve any drug-taking or needle exchanges."Some people got the wrong idea - but this is about offering support to people, it is absolutely not a drug consumption room," she said."It's going to be a wellbeing centre offering somewhere for a whole range of support groups, including addiction support."She stresses that the plan is to offer a wide range of services through existing organisations, including support for new parents and young people, people with cancer and veterans."Eventually, we hope it will have something there for everybody," she said.The plans for the centre