• December 8, 2004

Ten years ago a new million-pound detox centre had yet to help a single addict, because staff had not been given money to get it up and running.

The detox unit at Kingston’s flagship Kaleidoscope project – then the only borough-based drug rehabilitation retreat for addicts – was launched two months earlier.

But instead of being referred to the centre, drug users were being sent by the NHS to St George’s Hospital in Tooting.

It was described as a scandal by Kaleidoscope director Martin Blakeborough.

He said: “This is a classic case of Government speak with no action. And it’s not a good use of public money.”

The month previously, the Government announced detox was a key priority and said it was dishing out a further £179m to treat drug users across the UK.

But the Kingston unit still stood empty and local addicts were getting second-rate treatment elsewhere, the Comet reported.

The detox unit and learning centre, next to Kaleidoscope’s building in Cromwell Road, was opened in October 2004 by broadcaster Michael Buerk.

The six-bed secure complex included a music studio, a bakery and an art workshop.

Its chief aim was to help clients integrate into the community.

Mr Blakeborough said: “We are dealing with people with a lot of social disadvantage.

“They cannot afford to go to Tooting.

“It also means they are being locked up in a psychiatric unit with people who have very severe psychiatric problems and it’s wholly inappropriate for someone who’s not supposed to be in a psychiatric unit.

“A lot of clients are parents with kids, who can visit here – but it’s a long way to go to Tooting.”

Mr Blakeborough said the problem was part of a wider issue surrounding the amount of funding given to drugs projects.

  • December 5, 1964

A £45,000 extension to Surbiton library was opened by the mayor and mayoress of the town. Alderman H W Edwards expressed his gladness that social clubs that had held their meetings in the library would be able to transfer to the new extension.

  • December 8, 1989

Kingston Basketball Club, which had returned to the Tolworth Recreation Centre after a season as Glasgow Rangers, lifted the NatWest trophy at the Royal Albert Hall after defeating the Manchester Giants. That made it five wins in five at the venue.

  • December 8, 2004

Health chiefs targeted parents of primary school children in the borough in a campaign to ensure enough kids were receiving the MMR vaccine.

Only about half of the children had had their two doses of the vaccine to gain full protection.