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Tube criticises plans for
a new needle exchange
LONDON Underground has added its voice to the growing campaign
against controversial Town Hall plans to create a needle exchange
in a disused public toilet.
A letter from London Underground is to be sent to Camden Council
today (Thursday) objecting to the proposal to open the exchange
in the toilet situated in a subway connected to Tottenham Court
Road station.
Camden Council wants to spend almost £200,000 converting
the toilet in the subway in Andrew Borde Street. It would replace
the needle exchange van which has been in operation since 2000.
A spokesman from the Underground said last night (Wednesday)
it was not against an exchange in principal, but that it should
be located elsewhere “ideally in a more visible and accessible
street level premises”.
And he said that even if the exchange was opened on the site
it would have to be closed early in 2007 as London Underground
is planning major upgrade work on Tottenham Court Road station.
The spokesman said: “It would be open for less than 12
months.”
Westminster Council raised similar concerns in a letter of objection
sent on Thursday. Westminster has been trying to encourage Camden
to work with the Camden Primary Care Trust to find space in
the new UCLH building claiming that “we have all agreed
this would be the best option”.
Speaking before London Underground’s involvement Camden
councillor Jake Sumner, the community safety chief, strongly
defended the proposals.
He said: “Undoubtedly, there is opposition, it is a controversial
issue, but offering signposting to health facilities is the
way forward. Everyone agrees there is a drugs problem in the
area and the way to deal with it is get people signposted to
treatment.”
Camden Council’s planning committee is set to decide the
application on March 2. |
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