FAMILIES in a small village have reacted with horror to plans for a homeless treatment centre in their midst.

Simonwell Farm, in Sole Street, near Ashford, belongs to the Simon Community, a religious charity helping the homeless, and was a hostel until two years ago. It has since been empty.

Now the Canterbury Open Centre is planning to open a treatment centre for recovering addicts there. Treatment available on site would include weekly Narcotics Anonymous meetings and counselling.

The centre is negotiating with South Kent College to have a visiting lecturer to help residents, of which there will be up to nine, gain qualifications to ease their way back into society.

"We're hoping the centre residents can become part of the community eventually," said COC manager Mike Emberson. But fears sparked by events towards the end of the Simon Community's time on the site mean villagers are unimpressed with the planned scheme.

"It would kill my business," said Compasses landlord John Bennett. "There are old people and people with children here. How has anyone got the right to inflict this on them?"

The group has all but sealed its buying of the land, subject to conveyancing, and plans to start work renovating the building, which is in a state of disrepair, in November. It should be ready to take its first resident in February or March.

"My experience here shows me what's going to happen some time down the road," said Mr Bennett. "Are you telling me they'll be quiet and have no confrontations there?

"There's not enough to keep anyone entertained day in day out here. There's a boredom factor that we will bear the brunt of."

This fear was echoed by mother of two Lesley Coleman, who lives in the village. "It's the wrong place," she said. "I like to see people tackle their problems, but living out here opposite a pub is not going to help."

Two years ago, pub goers were horrified when a man was set on fire in an attempted murder at the site. He fled to the pub and was saved from first-degree burns by customers.

Canterbury Open Centre manager Mike Emberson said: "I'm not an apologist for the Simon Community. We are different. We have 12 years' experience and know what we're doing.

"We will be working with Narcotics Anonymous and Shelter who are experts in the field."

Ashford Borough Council senior planner Trevor Thomas said planning permission would depend on the detailed history of the site.

"It would come down to the original planning permission," he said. "If the building did not change to another use in the period between the handover it would not need new permission."

An open meeting to discuss the plan is being held on October 17, at Imperial College at Wye. For more details contact Canterbury Open Centre, on 01227 464904.