SYRINGES found scattered in a public toilet have sparked public safety fears.
The heap of needles was discovered in the Connah’s Quay toilets on High Street.
Shotton town councillor Elwyn Jones said he was worried a child could be stabbed by a needle.
Connah’s Quay town councillor Peter Tinman said the public was being put at risk.
“I fear for any children going in there,” said Cllr Jones, who made the discovery on Monday.
“Words can’t describe how horrible the scene was.
“It’s on the high street and close to the play area. Plenty of parents send their children in there.
“If they have sandals on they might get stabbed.”
He criticised community drug programmes for focusing on substance abusers rather than protecting children.
“The drug centre on Rowleys Drive in Shotton is totally failing if you can go into public toilets and find this,” he said.
“They don’t want them sharing needles and are supposed to be disposing of them safely but they are throwing them around the community
“Don’t they care about children?”
Cllr Jones said he “backed off in horror” when he stumbled upon the syringes and reported it to Flintshire Council immediately.
“A cleaner came straight away and said it was a regular occurrence,” he said.
“Apparently, there is a facility in the back of the toilet for needles but they are too idle and out of their heads to use it.
“These are lovely toilets, they are a much needed service, we’ve spent a lot of money on them and that’s what they are used for.
“It’s disgraceful. We shouldn’t accept it in our society.
“They shut the toilets in Alexandra Street in Shotton after a drug addict attacked a cleaner.
“We don’t want the same thing to happen here.”
The High Street toilets were put in place about 18 months ago after a health centre was built on the site of the former conveniences.
Peter Tinman, Connah’s Quay town councillor for Wepre ward, said: “This is absolutely disgraceful that people are being put at risk by a minority of individuals.
“There should be no excuse as sharp boxes are readily available for needles to be put in.
“I will be raising the matter with North Wales Police as surely, through DNA, we can catch the perpetrators.”
A Flintshire Council spokesman said: “The council’s Harm Reduction Team will respond rapidly if any hotspot areas are identified where people have discarded needles inappropriately.
“There is a small minority of people who do not use the needle exchange service which is available to them and we have no control over their actions and the police have been informed of the incident. Therefore we would encourage anyone who does find any needles to call Flintshire County Council’s Streetscene Service on 01352 701234.”