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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To worry about the area I’ve moved to?

11 replies

hungryhippo90 · 10/03/2018 22:16

I want to start by saying I have lived in Some fairly rough areas, but since moving- our estate is nice, and the town our housing estate is located in doesn’t really seem too bad, but my concern is that seeing discarded syringes is becoming a pretty regular occurence.

In the past I’ve seen a couple of syringes- but years apart, but since moving here 16 ish months ago, my daughter almost stepped on a needle in the middle of the street, the surrounding area around my dads flat has started to be used for people to take drugs, syringes and their debris is often found by residents.

A friend lives in a high rise block- syringes often discarded.

Today we went out, at the entrance of a walkway there were several syringes strewn on the floor. My daughter is the one who saw them, she mentioned it, which took me aback a bit, we moved here to provide a nicer life for DD, but over the past year she’s literally become aware of things I don’t think she would have had much of an idea about otherwise.

I guess my question is, is this sort of thing happening more and more, or is it really that I just live in a town where this is more common than usual?

I also want to point out that I have suffered with anxiety and agoraphobia so I haven’t always left the house much, I may have gone through life being blissfully unaware of how common this is...

OP posts:

frasier · 10/03/2018 22:19

It isn't common in any of the places I have lived.

I suppose you have 2 choices, move again or get involved with cleaning up the streets, start a campaign.

throwcushions · 10/03/2018 22:29

I haven't ever noticed this where I live.

Original poster

hungryhippo90 · 10/03/2018 22:42

Frasier- I have thought about doing clean up in the local area. I have discussed this with my Dad who does a lot with Addiction services, he seems to think that I would be putting myself into situations I don’t need to put myself in, and that cleaning up syringes won’t affect the fact I keep seeing them- unless I intend on taking a sharps bin with me wherever I go.

I think at this rate I may have to look into options of moving out of the area.

OP posts:

Frasier · 10/03/2018 22:48

What a shame you would have to move. And yes, clean up with needles is not exactly litter picking in the park.

Lifeisabeach09 · 10/03/2018 22:51

The council need to get involved. It's a real health and safety issue. Call them-repeatedly.

Lotsofsausage · 10/03/2018 22:53

That sounds awful. Perhaps you could take photos and send them to the local press, might kick start some council action. You don’t have to be named.

RoseWhiteTips · 10/03/2018 22:53

Never ever seen such a thing.

FairiesVsPixies · 10/03/2018 23:00

Blimey, I thought it was rough where we live but I have never seen anything like that. I think I would have to move.

Original poster

hungryhippo90 · 10/03/2018 23:14

I’ve never seen anything like it myself, I was very shocked in (I’m guessing it was) January of last year when we were walking along and DD was just putting her foot down and she shouted NEEDLE!! I know it sounds very over dramatic but it was just in the middle of the street! Person walking just behind us seemed unfazed at the time and I was fairly shocked myself.

Doesn’t seem like a particularly bad area TBH- like everywhere there are tougher areas I’d possibly not be as shocked, but when I was making a employee of the landowners aware of the syringes, and someone who over heard said that they’ve found quite a few in the town centre recently

I’m very shocked because I wouldn’t say it’s the worst place in the world, I’ve lived in rougher places, but never really seem this kind of thing.

OP posts:

Spickle · 11/03/2018 08:36

My workplace is on the corner of a main road and a little used side road. We see from our first floor window the addicts who loiter round the side road, waiting for a car driver who parks on the side street. One of the addicts gets into the car, the car drives along the side road, turns round at the end and comes back down the road, stops once again and the addict gets out with the stuff in his pocket. Then all the addicts walk off. Then the whole thing is repeated over and over again with different addicts and different drivers. We have informed the police who just seem oblivious and are not monitoring the situation.

This is in a nice town which has had a lot of money spent on it over the last few years. It's a desirable place, within commuting distance of London. One of the new build estates round here are selling houses for a million pounds.

NC4Now · 11/03/2018 08:44

It’s not common or usual. I’ve lived in all sorts of areas with all sorts of issues and have only seen a discarded needle once.
I wouldn’t get involved in cleaning them up. Your dad’s right - it would be unwise.
Definitely keep in at the council though. There should be proper provision for users to dispose of their needles and they should not be lying around. It’s a serious public health issue.
Not normal at all.

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