Fed-up staff clear Staffordshire site of needles and rubbish
Almost 200 hypodermic needles and 40 bags of rubbish have been cleared from a business site by volunteers in Hednesford.
Staff around the business site off Market Street called the area vile and disgusting and said it had attracted scores of rats.
They said they had no option but to take the matter into their own hands.
Councillor Linda Whitehouse, along with Ron Jones, who runs a machine tool specialist company on Market Street, say the rubbish should have been cleared earlier but Cannock Chase Council said it had carried out the work as soon as possible.
Police have been informed about residents' concerns the area is a hotspot for illegal drug taking. Councillor Whitehouse, who owns Whitehouse Property Group, said: "It really is vile, just disgusting. It's not our rubbish, it is from drug users and others just dumping the rubbish behind our offices."
Mr Jones, manager of the business Advico also on the site, who organised the clear-up a week ago said: "We had to do something."
To hire the van it cost the companies around £280, and they are looking to install CCTV, which will cost a further £1,600.
Mike Walker, environmental protection manager for the council said they were concerned, but officers had found no evidence of rodents. He added they had removed some rubbish, but said landowners were responsible for removing rubbish on private land. Police say they have visited the site and are working with firms to help with the problem.
