'Pot alley' used by 12-year-old (From Barry And District News)

'Pot alley' used by 12-year-old

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

One local man, who did not want to be named for fear of reprisal, said youngsters, one known to be aged 12 and others aged 15, were smoking pot on land behind houses on Murch Road.

The resident, whose home overlooks the area, said: "There are a group of people 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 division said they were unable to trace reports of any incidents and said they could not offer any comment.

Residents say they 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?" he said.

Mr Morgan said people living nearby must have "become accustomed to the filth."

And he said: "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 Barry & District News 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 regular monthly inspections.

* Are you fed up with the state of your area? Contact Jessica Hinton on 01446 734349.