A Windsor, Ont., addiction clinic that recently moved to a residential area will consider moving again after hearing from angry neighbours.

The former Drouillard Road Clinic reopened as the Erie St. Clair Clinic on Lincoln Road at the end of March.

'Can you tell me there will be no prostitutes, or people with violent criminal histories using their clinic?'—Susan Compter, neighbour

The people who live in the area say they're angry the clinic opened without any warning and they are not too happy with their new neighbours.

Residents met with the clinic's directors and ward councillors on Wednesday evening at a meeting that quickly descended into shouting.

"You're not welcome," said one resident. "I'm sorry you're gonna have to find another solution."

The clinic distributes methadone, a synthetic opioid used to help treat people addicted to drugs such as heroin and morphine.

But the neighbours don't like the type of clients the clinic attracts.

"Can you tell me there will be no prostitutes, or people with violent criminal histories using their clinic?" said Susan Compter.

Location not clinic's first choice

Residents said Lincoln Road is a street for families, not for addicts, something those running the clinic don't necessarily disagree with.

"We found an industrial site on Seminole near Walker, almost entirely industrial," said Dr. Tony Hammer. "The city would not consider rezoning it."

The building at 1574 Lincoln Road is already zoned as a medical facility and is the former home of The Windsor Allergy Asthma Education Centre.

The clinic serves about 500 patients.

Hammer said he is willing to work with city planners, councillors and residents to find another location, but it has to be financially feasible.

City councillors Fulvio Valentinis and Alan Halberstadt agreed to help the clinic find a new home.

A second methadone clinic in Windsor opened on University Avenue in the city's west end last summer, also prompting outrage from neighbours.