Worcestershire | Archive | 2001 | November | 1
From the archive, first published Thursday 1st Nov 2001.
TOWN councillors have vowed to keep fighting for new toilets in Pershore's Abbey Park after one of them claimed to have found evidence of drug abuse in the Church Walk public facilities.
Renewed calls were made to "keep the protest going" last Thursday after Councillor Ken Rowe told members of his discoveries.
Councillors have been calling for better facilities at Church Walk since last month when Coun David Shaw called the £90,000 block inadequate and said he was embarrassed to see people queuing outside a "talking sardine tin" during a town event.
Coun Rowe said he had recently inspected the men's cubicle and had found toilet roll holders broken off the wall and other acts of vandalism.
He said: "There is evidence of silver paper being burnt and blood up the wall, where someone has made a bad shot with a needle."
He added that he had seen a book kept by the cleaners which recorded all the incidents where needles had been found and claimed it said that 20-30 needles were being collected each week.
He said: "The whole thing is a real mess and I want something more than just talking about inadequate facilities."
Sharon Casswell, client services manager, said there had been no complaints of drug abuse from the public, and the council had no plans to change block.
She added: "The toilets are adequate for their location and there is no money in the budget for a new toilet block."
PS Paul Crumpton of West Mercia Police said: "The tell-tale signs of drug abuse can be seen in every town in the country, and Pershore is no different.
"We are aware that drug abuse has been occurring in these toilets and police resources have been deployed to tackle the problem."
© Newsquest Media Group 2008