Llandudno needs this, anyone living in the town knows the issues with drugs and alcohol but also the problems drugs cause and that they lead to other crimes.
Llandudno's crime rate in July 2025 was 41.4 crimes per 1,000 people, which is higher than the national average, with violent crime forming a significant portion of reports. You can compare Llandudno's crime rates with other areas, such as the local authority of Conwy, on the Police.uk website.
A former centre for blind veterans could become a hospital treating people addicted to drugs and alcohol. Adferiad Recovery has confirmed plans to acquire the former Blind Veterans Centre on Queen's Road, Craig-y-Don,, subject to contracts being agreed.
The Blind Veterans Convalescent Home was vacated in the spring, and the drug and alcohol charity want to provide a registered independent hospital, providing short-term inpatient care. The charity says the project will create 70 high-quality jobs, with at least 30 being new local opportunities.
But one Craig y Don resident Derrick Noble had concerns about the plans. “At the end of our street, we have the recently vacated Blind Veterans Convalescent Home, formerly known as Lady Foresters,” he said
“Rumour has been circulating recently claiming that the building is being sold to a charitable organisation called CAIS (now Adferiad) who specialise in the treatment of people suffering from substance abuse, addiction, alcohol abuse, and mental health conditions, as well as becoming a detox centre.
“This Lady Foresters building occupies a prime site in a quiet suburb of Llandudno with residents paying a premium for their properties in order to live in this quiet, friendly, and safe environment.” He added: “We have great concerns as to the adverse effect this proposal will have on Llandudno and Craig y Don in particular.”
The charity assured the local democracy reporting service that patients would be searched on arrival, with those found carrying drugs or alcohol being sent home. Adferiad Recovery says it wants to develop the site to replace its existing facility at Hafan Wen in Wrexham.
The charity also runs a unit in Old Colwyn and another in Lancashire. The organisation’s chief executive Alun Thomas said that the charity was consulting residents.
“We've invited local residents and elected officials to meet with us on Friday at the centre to discuss our vision for the centre,” he said. "We are working with Blind Veterans on the acquisition of the site, but all is still subject to contract.
“We want to meet with the local community to hear any questions they may have and hopefully be able to offer reassurance or explanation as appropriate.” He added: “Adferiad, through Change Step, has long ties with the work of veteran communities, and we will seek to maintain that relationship in Craig y Don.”
Councillor Frank Bradfield said the charity had posted leaflets in the neighbourhood. “It’s a very sensitive issue. But I’ve got full confidence in the director Alun Thomas. We have vulnerable people who suffer from (addiction),” he said.
“There is a covenant on this building that it must be used for medical purposes. It fits in the role of Lady Forester’s covenant that it would be used for medical purposes. What more medical purposes can we have than to treat and look after vulnerable adults, who suffer from mental health and substance misuse?
“People are concerned about these people, who are drug addicts, going about the locality, and that’s a falsehood. This is a responsible charity that looks after people, and if anyone steps out of line, they are out of the door immediately. I’ve got that information from people who work there. I’ve got every confidence.” He added: “People are against that because they don’t want it in their back yard, so whose back yard will we put it in?”
The charity currently delivers mental health support, substance-use services, housing and homelessness work, counselling for children and young people, and specialist veteran support through its Change Step programme. Adferiad says it is inviting Maes Berllan residents to the building on Friday 5 September between 2pm and 4pm.
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