Needles dumped in toilets spark calls for drug-use shelter

Fears raised about syringes found scattered

Shocked users of public toilets in Canterbury found the floor scattered with used needles and drug paraphernalia.

The disturbing and dangerous scene was discovered in the Dane John Gardens by mum Kelly Challacombe, who described it as “absolutely disgusting”.

She posted a warning on the Canterbury Residents Group Facebook page, which prompted others to comment about the misuse of the toilets by addicts.

Ben Roberts said he recently found a drug dealer and user in the toilet block and, on another occasion, needles and methadone in the gardens.

“If I had a toddler with me in that toilet, I would go mental at the drug user, not caring how stoned he was,” he said.

He claims a sharps bin in the toilets had been broken open by addicts to get at the needles.

“Canterbury needs a shelter where users can take drugs safely and privately,” he added.

City council spokesman Leo Whitlock said anyone finding needles in public toilets should call the council using the details at the entrance, which would prompt an urgent response from contractors Monitor.

“Because they were regularly getting broken into, sharps boxes at the toilets in Dane John have been replaced with a secure slot in a wall for needles to be dis- posed of,” he said.

“The toilets in the Dane John Gardens are cleaned twice a day - once mid morning after the toilets are opened at 7.30am and once mid afternoon before they are closed at 6pm.”

Just days after the worrying find in Dane John on December 30, people living in the Hales Place area of Canterbury also took to social media to complain about needles frequently being found near their homes and seeing people injecting themselves.

A mother, who asked not to be named, says she fears for her children being around people using drugs.

She says she wants residents to be aware that needles are being left on pavements so they are extra careful when out with youngsters or dogs.

“I don’t want my children around this,” she said. “Awareness needs to be raised about the problem.”

‘I don’t want my children around this. Awareness needs to be raised about it’