THE proximity of a new drug and alcohol support centre in Blackbird Leys to an off-licence should not be treated as a problem, organisers have claimed.

The empty tattoo parlour in Knights Road is set to become a community hub, run by national charity Lifeline Project.

It now has permission from Oxford City Council to work on the building, officially changing its use from a shop to a community support hub.

Responding to concerns from a resident that the unit is close to an off-licence in Blackbird Leys Road, Project manager DeeDee Wallace said: “It’s important to know we are not planning to have a crisis drop-in centre.

“This is a community support hub, with targeted work with people who want to be engaged with us.

“There are alcohol outlets all over towns and cities – this is the culture we live in.

“I don’t think this is any more of a problem than any community.

“If you’re going to have a community project, based in a community, it’s going to be situated near a place that sells alcohol.

“That’s just a fact of living in Britain.”

Greater Leys resident Pete Carter, who previously worked at Martin’s newsagents in Blackbird Leys Road, flagged up the potential problem.

He said: “There’s an element of risk. I haven’t got an issue that they need a centre, it’s whether it is sensible to put it there.

“You’ve got the Nisa, which is open until 9pm selling liquor.

“It’s like putting a jar of honey near a hornets’ nest. That’s the concern I’ve got.”

The Blackbird Leys base would be staffed by three people.

Liam Moore, who works in aftercare and resettlement at the Ley Community rehab centre in Yarnton, said: “Sometimes when people are detoxing they act impulsively. It’s a problem if you are passing shops all the time.

“It could help some people or could be a danger.

“But something is better than nothing.”