Cannabis kiddies (From Penarth Times)

Cannabis kiddies

DRUG USERS as young as 12 are gathering nightly in a Dinas Powys lane to smoke cannabis, residents claim.

One local man, who did not want to be named for fear of reprisals, said youngsters, thought to be aged between 12 and 15, were smoking drugs on land behind houses on Murch Road.

The resident, whose home overlooks the area, said: "There are a group that come up here regularly. They take no notice of what anyone says. They're here in the nights, and on Saturdays taking drugs.

"When you start looking around, you will see bottles with holes, burnt cans, bits of foil."

He added: "They also set fire to things like newspaper. But the firefighters are really good and come and put the fires out every time."

The man said he had contacted local police, but claimed "they won't do anything".

But the South Wales Police division were unable to trace reports of any incidents at the site, and therefore said they could not offer any comment. Other residents also complain that the area is going to 'rack and ruin."

They are also angry about the state of the Ash Path, just yards away from the alleged drugs den, which leads to Penarth.

Southra resident Brian Morgan said: "My wife Barbara and I came for a supposedly recreational walk during the Christmas break.

"It turned first into amazement and then into anger at the amount of rubbish deposited.

"The path is well hidden from main roads, so anyone who wishes to deposit rubbish there can do so without any worry of being seen."

Mr Morgan also hit out at youngsters walking to school via the path: "Has no-one at schools in Dinas Powys and Penarth, or parents, ever bothered to teach their children what to do with crisp packets, sweet covers and empty bottles? Or how important is it to take care of their environment?"

He added: "Regular rubbish collection in Dinas Powys and Penarth is the responsibility of the Vale of Glamorgan Council, but the workers are only visible when collecting rubbish on main roads."

Barbara Morgan added: "It's disgusting. It's people living here. I don't believe anybody would drive here to dump rubbish. This is the Third World of Dinas Powys."

After the Penarth Times contacted the council, they agreed to send workers out to the site.

And as we went to press, council personnel were set to "clear and clean" the footpath.

A council spokesman said they would "ensure the early identification of any future problems through regular monthly inspections."

l Are you fed up of the state of your area? Contact Ceri Garner at the Times on 2070 7234.