ANGRY residents have called for plans to site a drug and alcohol rehabilitation centre in their village to be scrapped.

More than 200 people from Gilling, near Ampleforth, packed into the Old School last night to hear an outline of the proposal. But during the heated question-and-answer session which followed, furious householders highlighted their fears that the centre would bring drugs and crime to the area.

The plan, by Alpha Project Development and Management, would mean a centre for 12 male patients would be situated on land owned by Ampleforth College at Redcar Farm.

The Abbot of Ampleforth, Father Timothy Wright, and local JP Lady Clarissa Collin opened the meeting by pointing out that the safety of the community was paramount.

"This plan will not go ahead unless I am convinced it has the support of the residents of the village," said the Abbot.

"I have drawn up a charter which, if the centre is built, those running it will have to abide by: it concerns the safety of residents.

"This meeting is part of a consultation with the residents; I have sent a letter to parents of the school and their views will be taken into account before a decision is made."

Lady Clarissa Collin said the centre would be an important part of society as it would help reduce crime.

She said: "Something like 80 per cent of crime is committed by people with drug or alcohol problems. By setting up a centre like this we are helping sick people get well."

Colin Bland, who would run the centre, assured residents they would not be at risk from patients.

"The principles set out in the charter will be closely followed. Patients will be no risk to society but just people who want to get off a drug or alcohol addiction," he said.

But residents claimed they were at risk from people associated with the addicts, such as drug dealers, coming to the village to visit patients.

Dr Andrew Heald, a resident and a consultant neurologist at York District Hospital, said that addicts posed a risk to society. "I think putting such a centre in this particular village is wrong," he added, to a round of applause from residents.

A very small number of residents remained open-minded and were willing to hear more about the proposal, but the majority were flatly against it.