A FAMILY is calling for two alleyways to be shut after they found syringes and broken glass strewn across them.

Sarah and Jonathan Odey, of Old Walcot, were shocked to find a dozen used needles on the pathways that lead to Lainesmead Primary School on Friday afternoon.

Sarah, 31, said: "This is just ridiculous, there are needles all over the path.

"They're used, so there's no telling what's in them, and they are thrown in among shards of glass.

"I have three children and they don't know what they are picking up, they could get infected with HIV or anything."

The Odeys found needles on a footpath from Queen's Drive, on another lane leading to the path from Woodside Avenue, and in a third walkway which completes a triangle back onto Queen's Drive.

Just three weeks ago, the Adver reported how Woodside Avenue resident Holly Westerman was horrified to find drug paraphernalia dumped a few feet away from her home.

The needles were discovered when her boyfriend, 30-year-old builder Paul Humphreys, was putting out the rubbish.

"It was horrific," she said at the time.

"When my boyfriend was putting out the rubbish he found heroin users' needles and tin foil in a bag that had been placed down the side of our wall on our driveway."

Both the Odeys and Ms Westerman have said they want the small alleyway from Queen's Drive to Woodside Avenue closed, but ward councillor Peter Mallinson said it would be difficult. Coun Mallinson (Con, Walcot) said: "I can understand why they are upset, and we looked at closing both small alleyways last year.

"But the solution is not as easy as it sounds, because if you block off one end the drug users will have a quiet enclave with lots of privacy.

"Similarly, if you block both ends there will be a void in the middle.

"The only way to tackle that is to get residents to take over the bit of path attached to their homes, which they won't all agree to."

Instead Coun Mallinson called for greater policing in the area.

He said: "You have to try and educate these people, but you can't do that until you've caught them and you know who they are.

"The neighbourhood wardens have done a good job in the past deterring these people, but it really needs full-time officers to take a stance."

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