Drug needles dumped in alleyway

Neighbours Lee Davis and Yvonne Gordon, of Park Road, called the environment department of Rother ten times between them but got nowhere.

They feared the cars, children and animals that used the Victorian alley behind Cornwall and Park Road were at risk from injury or possible infection from the eight needles found on Lee's driveway.

After intervention from the Observer, they were cleared within half an hour.

Lee made the first call on Monday morning."The lady in the flat above me found them on Monday morning and asked me what they were. I said I didn't know if they were diabetic needles or what." she said.

"First I rang the police. I was going out and was frightened to leave them there but I didn't want to touch them.

"They said to call the council.

"The council said someone would come round. I waited in all day and even cancelled a dental appointment for them."

But council contractors didn't arrive.

Lee and Yvonne hid the needles with a dustbin lid, where they hoped they would be safe.

Lee made another phone call and was told contractors would be along at 8am Tuesday morning.

But the needles were still there at the end of the day and until 12.45pm on Wednesday.

Yvonne called the council when she caught her dog sniffing the needles.

She was told contractors needed special equipment before they could remove the needles - a 'sharp box' for safe storage.

Yvonne was upset that this meant the needles had to stay outside her back gate.

"If it was Cooden Drive they wouldn't have it. Well I won't have it here. It is a disgrace." said Yvonne.

"We pay council tax and it is quite high. We shouldn't have to put up with this.

"Children play down here - why put them at unnecessary risk?"

Head of amenities at Rother Alwyn Roebuck explained the delay. "By the time the contractors got the information on Monday the street cleaning team had gone home.

"They went to clear them on Tuesday morning but the needles had been covered by a dustbin lid, which residents had put there with good reason, but prevented the contractors finding the needles.

"They then went back today (Wednesday) and cleared them."

The situation was not typical, Mr Roebuck said. "It was a one-off. The needles shouldn't have been there. Somebody clearly has been completely disrespectful of public safety."

He advised that members of the public should not pick-up sharp objects. Lee and Yvonne had followed the correct procedure in calling the council.

He suspected the needles had been used for illegal drugs.

"Genuine needle users - people with diabetes for example - make arrangements to have their used needles collected at their door. This is an efficient service.

"These needles are more likely to have been used by people not injecting prescribed drugs." said Mr Roebuck.