Glasgow drug consumption room to open within weeks

Building regulations state that the water supply must pass three consecutive safety tests before a building can be given the go ahead to open.

If one of those fails, the process must be restarted from test one.

Testing is administered by the local health board, NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde (NHSGGC).

Councillor Casey said the facility recently returned a “satisfactory” result, with a further test to come in the next week.

He said talks were also under way with the Lord Advocate’s office to obtain a “statement of prosecution policy,” which would allow users to take substances without fear of criminal action, but added that he did not anticipate any further delays.

He said it was “frustrating” the room was yet to open, but said staff were already working to support drug users across the city.

“The staff are all recruited and ready to go, the building is ready to all intents and purposes, we just want to get it open now and provide that service,” he said.

“The staff are engaging with folk on a day-to-day basis. We still have a wide range of supports for folk who are publicly injecting.

“But let’s be honest here, we have been waiting for 10 years to open this facility, and there has been red tape around that from the UK government, the Home Office, so another few weeks where we test the water to make sure it is safe is something we can cope with.”