A DRUG and alcohol treatment clinic can move into one of Winchester’s busiest shopping streets, planning chiefs decided.

The service run by the crime Reductions Initiatives (CRI) charity can now move into The Winchester Centre in St George’s Street.

Addicts had previously been treated in St Clement Street before a temporary move to Romsey Road.

The proposed transfer into The Winchester Centre had been criticised by several nearby traders.

They raised concerns of addicts waiting outside the premises and possibly putting off customers.

Winchester City Council’s planning committee met on Thursday (August 25) to decide if the move should be allowed.

Planning officers argued that the scheme, based in the former Winchester Area Community Action offices, should go ahead.

Cllr Eileen Berry took a different view and asked if The Winchester Centre was the right location.

Her Tory colleague Cllr Ian Tait said the Trinity Centre at Durngate, which helps the homeless and vulnerable, might have been better.

Matthew Hall, associate director of Solent NHS Trust, which is working with CRI on the scheme, said The Winchester Centre was a good location.

He added that they ran 10 other centres in Hampshire and, on past experience, service users did not loiter outside.

“Most people usually like to go into and out of the building relatively anonymously,” he said.

He added that around 650 people had addiction problems in the Winchester area.

As a result, the service was clearly needed, and would only be treating people in the district.

He added that if people overcame their addictions they were much less likely to commit crime.

Planners backed the scheme by 11 votes to one, with only Cllr Berry against.