Big needle find in Fant Ward

10.29.00am BST (GMT +0100) Sun 20th Apr 2008

This shocking picture shows Councillor Nick Schnell and Lib Dem Environment Chief Tony Harwood with just a few of the hundreds of used hypodermic syringes discovered on the River Medway tow-path in Fant ward during a Spring Clean led by local Liberal Democrat Councillors.

The spring-time clean-up tackled both banks of the river in the vicinity of Tovil footbridge. More than thirty black sacks full of discarded beer cans, carrier bags, plastic soft drink bottles and bagged dog-waste were cleared from the tow-path during Saturday morning. Hypodermic syringes and other intra-venous drug taking paraphernalia were also discovered close to the footbridge and disposed of using a 'sharps' receptacle . Cllr. Nick Schnell followed up this hazardous find by contacting key Police and Maidstone Borough Council personnel to ensure that 1. the site is completely cleared of needles and 2. practical measures are taken to prevent any future incidents of hazardous illegal activity in this locality.

Local campaigner Fran Smith, who took part in the clean-up, said "Maidstone Liberal Democrats have given top priority to cleaning up our Borough and prosecuting tough enforcement against fly-tippers and litter louts. This shocking find underlines how right this approach is."