A GP has attacked claims that a new medical centre will lead to drug addicts hanging around the streets.

A letter from an action group to council planners lays out a series of concerns about proposals for the £3.5 million medical centre on land now occupied by the Deers Leap pub on the A38 Droitwich Road, Worcester.

Rob Menzies, chairman of the St Stephen’s Residents Action Group, details concerns in a 32-page letter to the planning department of Worcester City Council.

One concern is that a new surgery and pharmacy will create a ‘drugs market’ in which addicts are prescribed methadone and other substitutes to help get them off street drugs.

The claim has been refuted by a leading GP.

Mr Menzies said in the letter: “The area around the Deers Leap and the proposed new surgery and pharmacy will unfortunately provide an ideal environment for the creation of a new local informal drugs marketplace.

“The placing of a surgery and pharmacy together will inevitably provide an attractive proposition both for drug users and drug dealers.”

He also raised the prospect of the surgery attracting drug gangs fighting for control of the local market place and prostitutes because a high percentage are also addicted to drugs.

But Charlie Harris, the doctor handling the plans for relocation of the medical centre, said GPs at the existing surgery in Shrubbery Avenue were not qualified to hand out methadone prescriptions. However, they may provide other help and support to people battling drug or alcohol addiction.

He said: “It has caused upset. My concern is that I wouldn’t want any of our patients to be upset.

“These kind of comments are not fitting in a modern day society. They are derogatory to a vulnerable sector of the community.”

Dr Harris also said he and medical staff believed the vast majority of people supported plans for the new centre, including most of the 10,000 patients registered at the practice.

He beleived the existing Edwardian surgery was no longer fit for purpose, especially for disabled people.

Dr Harris said: “If we don’t succeed with this application we may have to give up. We have been trying to move for the last five years.

“This is the last chance. We can’t carry on forever.”

The new facilities, if granted planning permission, will have modern consulting rooms and treatment rooms, a minor operations suite, an on-site pharmacy and 41 car parking spaces.

The present surgery is considered outdated and has no parking spaces.

Other objections to the plans include the medical centre adding to the existing high level of street parking and damage to the trade of existing pharmacies in the area.

The matter is likely to be discussed at Worcester City Council’s planning meeting next month.