CORE METHADONE CLINIC DRAWS COMPLAINTS

Area Business Owners Want Lighting, More Policing.

London police are working with core business owners and doctors at a
downtown methadone clinic to solve problems the business owners believe are
caused by the clinic's patients. Donald Sanderson, general manager of
Needham Funeral home on Dundas Street, hosted a community meeting last night
with two police officers, several area business owners and two doctors who
work at Clinic 528 to discuss ways to eliminate the loitering and vandalism
in the area.

The clinic is a medical facility that helps people with drug addictions.

The business owners, who complained of vandalism to their property and
occasional violence, gave suggestions to police and the doctors, including
lighting the alley between the clinic and funeral home, increasing the
police presence and hiring someone to clean up the garbage left by patients
of the clinic.

The doctors agreed to the suggestions, but wouldn't consider shutting the
clinic.

"To threaten patients with closing the clinic will create more anxiety and
more problems," said Dr. Martyn Judson.

The clinic has about 400 patients.

Const. Marcel Marcellin, who has been working with the clinic since March to
improve safety inside and outside, said shutting down the clinic isn't a
viable option.

"They are providing a legitimate medical service and they have a large
client base," said Marcellin, adding moving the clinic would only move the
problems elsewhere, not solve them.

The parties involved agreed to follow through with the suggestions and meet
in a month to see if things have improved.

"I feel confident that something will be done," said Sanderson.