Claim that used needles discarded at Athlone site

An Athlone councillor has claimed that used needles and other drug paraphernalia are to be seen in a derelict building in Athlone.

In a question to this month's meeting of the Athlone/Moate Municipal District of Westmeath County Council, Cllr Frankie Keena said the former Athlone Glass building on the Clonown Road is "attracting a high level of anti-social behaviour with discards of drug paraphernalia such as used needles and empty cans".

He said he had raised the issue of the dilapidated state of the building through motions and questions previously and went on to ask the council if it thought "this type of behaviour is fair on local residents and businesses in the area".

The council, in a written response, said the property is on the Derelict Sites Register since 2018.

"Correspondence has been sent to the owner of the site on foot of previous motions but as yet no response has been received."

It said reports of anti-social behaviour at the site are a matter for An Garda Siochana.

Funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme