Updated: Drug and alcohol charity draws up housing plan to support former servicemen and women

But the Hemel Hempstead-based rehab charity insists that its plan for two empty properties in Berkhamsted’s Clarence Road will be used to provide temporary accommodation for those leaving the armed forces.

A social media campaign against the planning application which requests a ‘change of use to shelter from rehabilitation’ is being mounted by those already living in the street.

They say the proposal is inappropriate for the area because it is next door to Victoria Infant and Nursery School.

Druglink is attempting to ease people’s fears by hosting a drop-in public consultation on Monday at the town’s Civic Centre from 2pm to 3pm and 7pm to 8pm.

Development manager Dave Gill said: “We are hoping to allay their fears a bit and make it clear to them that this isn’t their worst fear. This is something that will be a benefit to the local community.”

If given the green light by planning chiefs the empty property - originally built as two houses and owned by Dacorum Borough Council - will be converted into a shared house using funding provided by the government’s Empty Homes Programme.

Mr Gill said: “Sometimes when people leave the armed forces they need a bit more support settling back down into the community, so we have been working with armed forces charities to look at ways of supporting people to reengage with civilian life.

“The idea is that they can then move onto completely independent living and reengage back into civilian life.”

He said the home, which will house a maximum of six people, will not be used by people working to combat drug or alcohol addictions.

But worried neighbours are unconvinced.

Another resident who lives in the road but asked not to be named, does not believe the property will be used only for veterans. He said: “I have got two young children and I’m very concerned, as is the whole of the street.

“They cover a broad range of people, they cover recovering drug addicts and things like that. I’m not being unchristian about this and right wing but it seems shortsighted that they are putting this next to a school.

“There are people in this street who have grown up here who now want to leave the street.”

Another resident, who lives next door to the proposed shared house but again asked not to be named, said: “The main point is you can’t just put people somewhere when it is next to a primary school. You have to know, who are those people, where are they coming from?

“People haven’t slept for days and days over this because people haven’t been telling us what is going on. It is very frightening.

“Dads are outraged and mums can’t sleep.”

Mr Gill said the home would house people with links with Hertfordshire and probably Dacorum.

He said: “As a drug and alcohol charity we have noticed that veterans do need some support. I’m not for one moment suggesting that they are more likely to have addictive personalities but there are similarities in the support that we can give in terms of moving towards independent living.”

Dacorum Borough Council’s assistant planning director James Doe said the application will be considered by the council development control committee as it involves council-owned property.

He said: “Notification of the proposals has been carried out in accordance with the council’s policy. Following concern from residents, however, a further site notice will be posted in Clarence Road and wider consultation with residents will be taking place shortly. This application is in its early stages so there will be plenty of time for residents and others to comment.

“Druglink is submitting more information to explain the proposals, and this will be uploaded to the planning case information on the council’s website as soon as it’s available.”