CONTAMINATED needles have been found in a park close to a school.
In the past month about 25 discarded needles have been discovered at the Gardens of Rest next to Victoria Infants and Junior School, Wrexham.
Councillors say the area is one of Wrexham’s hot-spots for drug users.
Karen Benfield, clerk of Offa Community Council, said: “It’s used as a drugs den and we have found no end of syringes there.
“We had the same issue about 12 months ago and for the past month it’s been starting again.
“We don’t want syringes where the kids could get hold of them.”
Community leaders are now calling for urgent action to be taken.
Police have promised to scour the area and will work with Wrexham Council’s Streetscene to tackle the problem.
PC Andy Turvey said: “We have an action plan and will be having high visibility police, uniformed patrol and PCSO patrols. If we come across anybody we suspect is dealing or in possession of drugs they will be stopped and searched and arrested if drugs are found on them.”
Ms Benfield said she feared for the health of those left to clear up the drug paraphernalia.
“It’s dangerous for us too as you have got to wear special protective gloves,” she added.
“It’s quite disturbing to think people are so desperate to get their fix that they go and hide in shrubbery.”
Richard Aram, Bellevue Park development officer, said: “There is a danger to the public but I know police are doing what they can about it.
“A while ago we had CCTV in the area which helped but it was on loan for six months.”
The Gardens of Rest, a small park area with gravestones, was cleared up about six months ago thanks to a Tidy Towns grant of £4,000.
Queensway councillor Carrie Harper knows all too well the problems with syringes being discarded. A few months ago 160 needles were found behind the Red Dragon pub on Caia Park. “It’s a massive safety issue,” she said.
“I know kids who have stood on needles and their families have gone through hell waiting for the results.”
Whitegate councillor Marc Jones is now calling for a debate into how to tackle drugs in the town.
“It’s an ongoing problem. This is an issue which is not going away,” he said.