THE BATTLE over a controversial £1 million drink and drugs rehab centre planned for Blackwood is set to continue after the developers appealed.

Fairlake Properties has lodged an appeal with the Planning Inspectorate Wales over its application for Highbury House in Blackwood.

In December Caerphilly council's planning committee decided to refer the application back to its January meeting for reasons for refusal.

But the application was first submitted to planners on August 9 last year, and Fairlake said it wasn't determined within the eight-week time period.

A spokeswoman said: "We resolved all planning matters via consultation prior to submitting our application.

"The proposal went to the planning committee with officers' recommendations for approval. We have now registered an appeal against non-determination for this much-needed scheme."

Their appeal, under section 78 of the town and country planning act, 1990, was submitted to the Planning Inspectorate in Cardiff over the Christmas holiday and registered this week.

A spokeswoman for the Inspectorate said a decision is due in April.

The plan was to demolish outbuildings at Highbury House and build an extension, making a rehab centre for eight people with alcohol and drug problems.

But residents said the location was unsuitable, with the house being just off the small residential Highbury Drive, near Blackwood town centre.

Concerns were raised over the impact building works would have on the already damaged drive, its proximity to Libanus primary school and access issues.

Many councillors on the planning committee agreed that the plans would turn an already "chaotic road" into a hazard.

Campaigner Patricia Lambeth said residents, whose message was "right plan, wrong location", are "devastated" at the news.

She said: "Everybody is determined to fight on."

Independent Blackwood councillor Kevin Etheridge added: "We thought they would have listened to the planning committee and the two and a half thousand residents who are objecting to the location. This will now mean more stress for the residents."