PLANS to house child sex offenders at a rehabilitation centre in Edenfield have been scrapped.

But campaigners are still fighting proposals to house other sex offenders at Chatterton Hey House, which is situated just a few hundred yards from a children’s playground.

At a meeting between operator Langley House Trust, police and probation, plans to accommodate paedophiles were scrapped following public pressure.

A spokesperson for the trust said: “All agencies recognised the valuable work that Chatterton Hey carry out and will continue to work in partnership to manage risk and protect the public.

“Langley House Trust has listened to the public, are in agreement with this decision and will now turn our attention to attempting to rebuild our hitherto positive relationship with the local community.

“We would like to thank local residents for the largely responsible and peaceful way in which their campaign against the proposals has been conducted.

“Public protection is of paramount importance to us and we are working closely with local police and probation to ensure that this will always be the case at Chatterton Hey.”

Although campaigners were pleased that child sex offenders would not be hioused at the centre, they are concerned that sex offenders could still occupy the building, sited near to a park and two primary schools.

Caron Beard, who is leading the campaign, said: “They said they won’t house child sex offenders there but sex offenders and ex-offenders are going ahead. The bosses have tried to reassure us that public protection is their priority but we are still campaigning.

“At the end of the day, we want Edenfield to be safe. There are no barriers at the house, it’s not a prison, so they will be free to walk around the streets and have mobiles and use of the internet.”

Chatterton Hey is a registered drug and alcohol rehabilitation centre which was housing people with a variety of needs, including ex-offenders, until October, 2010.

The final decision on the type of residents who could be housed at Chatterton Hey will be made by Langley House Trust and the Ministry of Justice.