Estate alley mission for man in clear-ups

A resident is on mission to clear dirty syringes dumped by drug addicts, beer cans and litter from an alley used by children and pensioners living on a Willenhall estate.

Tony Ball got so fed up with the mess along the footpath between Cedar Road and Noose Lane he regularly cleans it up himself.

Now the retired fire protection operative has called on Walsall Council to increase the number of times the alley is swept and to improve lighting.

Mr Ball, aged 59, said: "I go and pick up the needles that get dumped down there about once a month."

The Cedar Road resident added: "Usually I find about 30 dirty needles which worries me because the path is well-used by children heading to Fibbersley Park Primary and Deans High. If ever one of them picked up one of these needles it could mean the end for them.

"There are also burned spoons, wipes and condom packets and I would say about 100 beer cans. It's a right mess down there and something needs to be done to protect residents. People congregate down there and have parties.

"The council needs to come more often, the lighting needs to be improved and perhaps a surveillance camera fitted.

"I would also like the drug counselling agencies and chemists who dish out these needle and spoon kits to heroin addicts to ensure they are being used more responsibly."

Mr Ball said he was due to telephone the Willenhall South councillors about the situation.Walsall Council's head of Streetpride Mark Holden said: "A member of the team visited the area on Monday and took away a number of needles which a member of the public had collected."

He said staff returned to the site yesterday to inspect the alleyway and remove any further needles and general rubbish.

But the council's senior rights of way officer Jo Sheeran added: "Public Rights of Way have received no complaints regarding litter, anti-social behaviour or drug use in this alleyway. Our procedure if we do receive complaints would be to investigate them and to liaise with Street Pride Ground Services."