A DISGUSTED Evesham mum has slammed council chiefs for failing to immediately collect a heroin ‘one hit kit’ dumped in her front garden.
Mum of three Melanie Kennedy made the shocking discovery as she left home with her three-year-old daughter on Tuesday.
She spotted a syringe in the middle of her front garden and a used ‘one hit kit’ by the side of the fence which gave instructions on how to take heroin.
The horrified mum told the Observer: “I was absolutely disgusted. My partner had already taken my two boys to school.
“I stopped to pick the rubbish up out of the garden. Luckily I realised what it was before grabbing it.
“I knocked on my neighbour’s door, who is partially sighted, and checked her garden just in case anything had been thrown into hers.
“I’m shocked. I had no idea you could get a kit with full instructions on how to take heroin on it.
The concerned mum called West Mercia Police on 101 as she was unsure whether the force would collect the items but was told it was ‘nothing to do with them’.
Melanie was then told to call Wychavon District Council, who are responsible for discarding syringes and needles found in public.
“I was told the team which deals with this sort of thing were in a meeting and to ring back later on in the afternoon,” she added.
“I had still not got hold of anyone by the time of the school run and my children had after school commitments and so I had to wait until the following day to call back.
“I thought that was unacceptable as I still had drug paraphernalia on my property.
A day after discovering the ‘one hit kit’ and following a further phone call to Wychavon the syringe was collected on Wednesday morning.
However, the disgusted mum has slammed council chiefs for their response and claimed they ‘did not seem bothered at all.’
“The woman I spoke to asked if my details had been taken yesterday and I said no,” Melanie added.
“I had to say to her can you send someone so it can be disposed of correctly. It’s like I was expected to just throw it in the bin.”
In response, Sharon Casswell, Wychavon District Council client services manager said: “Unfortunately we were unable to take the initial call due to important staff training.
“When we did receive the call the following morning we agreed immediately to make arrangements to come out and collect it.
“We are not legally obliged to deal with discarded needles on private land, it is the responsibility of the land owner. However, on this occasion we felt it was in the public interest to do so.”
