Calls made to seal off Shaw Croft bus shelter used as a ‘drugs hut’
CALLS have been made to seal off a town centre bus shelter that has been described as a “drugs hut”.
The shelter, in Shaw Croft car park, which was put in place for users of the Ashbourne Community Transport bus service, has become a magnet for rats and youths, according to a correspondent who wrote to Ashbourne Town Council to complain about it.
In the letter, which was due to be discussed at a meeting last night, the correspondent, whose name has been withheld, told the town council, which is responsible for bus shelters, “drunk and druggedup youths” were leaving broken bottles of vodka lying around and the behaviour was spilling out into nearby properties.
The letter states: “I have never seen the bus shelter actually used for what it’s supposed to be used for. Instead it’s a drug hut for these youths.
“The shelter either needs locking overnight like the toilets, or removing completely. Before there’s an escalation in what happens down in it, whether it’s the youths escalating their crimes, or myself or others personally doing something about it.”
The town’s group of volunteer litter-pickers, Proud of Ashbourne, has also been keeping a close eye on the shelter, and says members are constantly clearing rubbish left overnight from it, before the district council’s own litter pickers call in on their daily rounds.
The group’s founder, Janet Keyne, says there is often evidence of drugs paraphernalia found among the piles of litter.
She told the News Telegraph: “I have found a grinder in the shelter and, just close by, a phone which was obviously a “dealer’s” phone.
“I have, on occasions, put up notices in the shelter asking users to use the shelter responsibly by taking their rubbish away and using the bin, which is only a few paces away. I’ve tried to find out about any CCTV which might be useful eful but nobody seems eems to know anynything.
“Also, the design of the shelter doesn’t help. Because it’s enclosed down to the tarmac c it traps all the he cigarette butts and smaller r items of litter around d th the edges d and under the seat so that even when cleared it shabby shabby.
“Ou “Our group has swept it an and it then lo looks pres sentable b but we don’t always have a broom with us.
“We do sometimes find ourselves picking up the butts individually, which is very time-consuming.” Ms Keyne it’s been remains says her group would not join in with calls for the shelter to be closed off, however, as it serves as a useful covered shelter for its genuine users.
She said: “I don’t know how it can be effectively closed off when not in use - any barrier will be broken - probably causing further costly damage resulting in total closure.
“It’s another case of the tail wagging the dog. The causes are not rectified.
“Why should the elderly lose this really useful facility just because of some morons?
“By restricting use of the shelter we’d just be moving the drug problem somewhere else whilst depriving everyone of a much needed facility – just as a resting place in town, to shelter from elements, or a place to chat while waiting for transport.
“The offenders are never pursued and, if the shelter is closed, those irresponsible users will have won again and, not having any remorse of the damage they do, just move on.
“The town councils need to take a lead in trying to regain control of the town centre,” said Mrs Keyne.
“It’s no good playing ineffectual catch-up all the time.”
I have found a grinder in the shelter and, just close by, a phone which was obviously a “dealer’s” phone. Janet Keyne wi “W som i di id ll h