A CHARITY that cares for vulnerable children is fighting plans that will force them to share a building in Hereford with an organisation that helps drug addicts.

The NSPCC says it would not have taken out a lease on the second floor of Monkmoor Court, Commercial Road, if it had known that drug and alcohol support group DASH wanted to create a drop-in centre for users on the floors below.

DASH, run by Herefordshire Primary Care Trust, wants to use the building to house consultant drug workers and support staff, provide interview rooms for addicts and continue its needle exchange service.

The plans, submitted to Herefordshire Council, are recommended by officers for approval.

Objecting, the NSPCC said it was the only service in the county undertaking specialist work with vulnerable young people who had been abused and displayed sexualised behaviour. It claims some of the DASH clients could be the abusers of some of the children.

In a letter to planners, the NSPCC stated: "The proposal that a service for DASH clients, addicted adult drug and alcohol users, be based on the ground floor gives rise to concern that encounters with the DASH clients may expose our young people to an unacceptable level of influence and risk."

The fact that DASH clients would gain access through a separate entrance did not resolve the conflict of use, said the NSPCC.

In a report, planning officers agreed compatibility of uses was a consideration, particularly where sensitive uses are involved. But the two groups would be using different floors, with DASH clients using the rear entrance, leaving the front one for the NSPCC.

"Under these circumstances, and with appropriate internal security and management of the building by the responsible occupiers, it is considered that the issue should be addressed," the report said.

Planners also pointed out that in Hereford's relatively small city centre it was possible some overlap between different service clients could occur anyway and would not amount to a sustainable reason for refusing planning permission in this particular location.

The planning application will be decided by councillors next Wednesday.