Llanelli dance school slams plans to expand nearby rehab centre
OPPOSITION to a £720,000 expansion to a drug rehab centre has been voiced by the owner of a dance school.
Plans for the expansion at ChooseLife have been criticised by Dance Kingdom owner Michael Pharoah.
He claims the revamp in Copperworks Road could put off young dance school students.
But the head of ChooseLife, Alan Andrews, has called for Mr Pharoah to "get off the bandwagon". Mr Pharoah said: "Whereas everyone is entitled to treatment for whatever they have got, in this particular instance, some of the people, it won't succeed with.
"Those are the ones we are worried about."
He said children from the age of three-and-a-half upwards could be deterred from going to the school.
"It is something we don't particularly want to take a chance with," he said. "The area around there has cleaned itself up a lot in the past 20 years. We really don't want to see it going backwards."
He claimed there had been incidents of antisocial behaviour in the past.
But ChooseLife founder and director Alan Andrews defended the proposed expansion move.
"ChooseLife isn't responsible for all the antisocial behaviour that goes on in Llanelli.
"When they are in ChooseLife there is no antisocial behaviour. We have never come across anyone leaving and then being antisocial.
"The Dance Kingdom is there surrounded by lots of pubs. You very rarely get people who have a drug problem causing antisocial behaviour.
"When people are on drugs they don't go out committing mindless antisocial behaviour."
He said that rumours had circulated that ChooseLife was going to be taking in drug addicts from Swansea and Carmarthen.
Mr Andrews said: "I have been telling people that if people were being shipped in from Swansea and Carmarthen I personally would sign a petition.
"We want to emphasise the fact that we have enough work to do as it is. We worked with 360 people last year and they are all Llanelli people."
Asked about his success rate, Mr Andrews replied: "If someone takes less drugs, that's success, if they become a better parent, that's success."
Mr Andrews said addicts from ChooseLife had visited the Dance Kingdom "as part of diversionary activities".
He added: "We find it difficult to understand why people who are willing to have our business and have been more than supportive to us, are objecting. People need to get off the bandwagon."
shaun.greaney@swwmedia.co.uk
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by claire(success story), swansea
Wednesday, September 15 2010, 5:08PM
“couldnt believe it when i read this article,as i myself used to go to dance kingdom as a child,which was great,but as i grew up i become a heroin addict,i am now free of years of heroin abuse,and am more than pleased to say "im a chooselife succses story"
i feel i owe my life to alan and chooselife and the support i recieved off them,id be dead now without a doubt if it wernt for chooselife.
i think dance kingdom is looking for publicity and this is a great chance for them,i speak from experience that the last thing on the "junkies"minds will be popping in for a quick foxtrot or a cha cha cha !most of them arent even aware of the place,as its tucked away behind the station in a dingy lane.although i enjoyed my time in dance kingdom as a child,the impact on my life by chooselife is so much more than it could ever hope to achieve.
theres so many on heroin these days,those who think chooselife is a waste of money-you are so wrong !!if you believe your family is drug free,your so wrong! those who thing they have goody goody grandchildren who are not on drugs,youre probably wrong too !
its a war out there with heroin,and instead of people slagging chooselife off,i think they should actually start praising alan and chooselife for the battle he is fighting alone without you for your families and loved ones !
to dance kingdom i would suggest why dont they get together with alan and arrange classes for the addicts and get to know these guys,they are human after all,and also theyd be helping the community too :) HUGE RESPECT AND LOVE TO U ALL AT CHOOSELIFE XXX”
by sian, Llanelli
Thursday, September 02 2010, 7:31PM
“If "Choose Life" was such an success how come drug taking within the area has incresed dramatically.
This porject should not expand at all especially within a residential area. It would be interesting to see if Mr Andrews would openly publish his success rate (that being the number of individuals that have become "clean") not those that take less (how is this a success, reduction ultimately is a temporary measure)?
These figures are NEVER published by this organisation and that makes me think why?
A centre of this type should NOT be located anywhere near a residential area at all! To expand a scheme which is not successful is a complete waste of money, which could be put to better use treating those that value their lives.”
by geoff, Westcross
Friday, August 27 2010, 8:49PM
“lets get back to the real sufferers here in this story
the dance kingdom members having paid their hard earned fees having to put up with this expansion to the chooselife building and its druggie inmates comings and going morning noon and night!!
ah thats off my chest now out for a pint happy trolling john boy!”
by geoff, Westcross
Friday, August 27 2010, 8:26PM
“john
having a go at my bad spelling is a bit cowardly and will not stop me speaking th truth on here!!”
by geoff, Westcross
Friday, August 27 2010, 8:22PM
“make more prisons and stick all druggies inside for a few years with no visitors to sneak in drugs for them!
probably cheaper than paying all these drug councillors to do bu@@er all
that will sort them out all right!!”
by john, swansea
Friday, August 27 2010, 8:19PM
“Supposition again geoff.I probably worked harder in my forty years of full employment than you ever did what with your bad knee and all.Don't ever jump to conclusions they may bite you back.By the way don't you have spell check?Veins are for blood circulation,Vain is what you appear to be.”
by geoff, Westcross
Friday, August 27 2010, 8:02PM
“john swansea
you probably have been on the sick all your life and have not got a clue what a hard days slog is!
its one in ten that get away from the filth they feed into their viens not good enough john boy!!”
by john, swansea
Friday, August 27 2010, 7:50PM
“Not funny geoff,why don't you go and visit this centre or the one in Gorslas run by Teen Challenge to see that addicts can be turned around and lead useful lives.You may like to read a book called Chasing the Dragon about addicts in Hong Kong being cured,yes cured! Thanks Steve for your input on a very touchy subject.If an addict wants to come off he needs all the help he can get,not negative comments by nimbys.”
by geoff, Westcross
Friday, August 27 2010, 6:02PM
“if you want anything to do with public services or anything FREE these days you got to be a junkie haha!!!!
I wonder if taking a couple off paracetamols a day for my dodgy knees(due to me working on the buildings for 30 years in all weather without claiming
a single benefit)would get me something for nothing I Mean they are drugs
this country stinks looking after druggies before hard working tax payers!!!!”
by Steve, Mayals, Swansea
Friday, August 27 2010, 11:22AM
“Paul Jones: I fully agree that benefits should be removed from people who do not commit themselves to rehab treatment. The welfare state should be honed at empowering people and vitalizing communities not weakening the individual and debilitating society as it does at present.
As for locking addicts in a shed until they quit, this might work in some cases. However, many, especially those who mix alcohol and drugs, can die of seizure without correct management of their detox.
Furthermore, without having learned the skills to overcome the triggers of addiction, many would immediately relapse. Although it is not infallible, rehab is still the best option to treat addicts and to minimize the negative effect addicts have on the overall well-being of society.”