Business owners and community groups in Downtown Vancouver are voicing their concerns over a planned overdose prevention site at Helmcken and Hornby streets.

The province has already announced the site won’t be opening anytime soon, but local stakeholders say there hasn’t been enough consultation.

They are now demanding more transparency.

“Where was the community safety plan, where was the discussion with neighbouring strata corporations, where was the explanation of security, loitering, discarded needles, public safety, emergency response, and the impact on residents?” asked Paul Tolnai, a resident and strata council representative in the neighbourhood.

“It was nowhere.”

Vancouver Mayor Ken Sim vowed to use “all tools available” to block the site from opening when it was first announced earlier this month. There have since been calls to push the province and health authority to move the site to the new St. Paul’s Hospital.

“We’re calling on the province to work with us to build a response that’s more effective, more consultative, and one that builds public trust,” said Downtown Van CEO Jane Talbot.

Despite delaying the opening, the province says it will work with Vancouver Coastal Health to get a site opened. Meanwhile, a mobile overdose prevention site provides limited services in the area.