Controversial plans to locate a drug and alcohol rehabilitation centre in a North Yorkshire village were shelved today.

The centre, which was to be situated at Redcar Farm, in the grounds of Ampleforth College, sparked angry opposition from residents who said they would be threatened by potential drug dealers visiting the area.

Alpha Project Development & Management, the company behind the proposal, announced that it was dropping the plans and looking elsewhere for a site, because the consultation process with residents would take too long.

Residents today welcomed the news, saying Alpha had made the right decision in pulling out of the area.

Under Alpha's plans, the centre would have provided rehabilitation for drug and alcohol users in a secure, peaceful environment.

Hundreds of residents packed out a public meeting held in December to register their concerns directly to the Abbot of Ampleforth College, the Right Reverend Timothy Wright.

The Abbot expressed his sadness over the fact that it would be impossible to go ahead with the project.

But resident Steve Smallman said plans for the centre were flawed from the start.

"We were concerned the people using the centre would attract the wrong sort of visitors such as drug dealers," he said.

Updated: 11:14 Thursday, January 25, 2001