Culcheth residents heartbroken amid drug use at park

The park, off Shaw Street in Culcheth, has long been frequented by groups of youths who continue to show a disregard for the area, residents say.

Last week, it was reported that a bin had been set alight on the park, and now residents have shared their thoughts on the use of the park.

A bin was set alight on the park last week (Image: Supplied)

A small group of volunteers regularly litter-pick on the site of Shaw Street Recreational Ground, and one of them has spoken to the Warrington Guardian about the area's plight.

She said: "We clear it every morning and it’s getting worse by the day. Teenageers gather on the skate park in the evenings and the mess they leave is downright dangerous.

"They mostly congregate on Friday and Saturday nights and they drink alcohol and use nitrous oxide.

"I don’t make any judgement on that, but they always smash the bottles leaving tons of glass which is dangerous for kids and dogs."

Litter is picked from the park numerous times per week, to no avail (Image: Supplied)

She then elaborated on the scale of the clean-up that the group undertakes: "On an average Saturday and Sunday morning we brush up glass from about 20 to 30 smashed bottles (usually vodka, beer and cider), and 30 or so small gas canisters and a couple of the large gas canisters."

Nitrous oxide - commonly known as 'laughing gas' - is inhaled to obtain a short 'high,' but its use comes with high stakes, and can be incredibly dangerous to the brain function of those that use it inappropriately.

The group collects between three and six bags of rubbish from the park each weekend morning (Image: Supplied)

The volunteer added: "There are also the usual litter that goes with it all, pizza boxes, McDonald's bags, plastic trays from the chippy and tons of balloons that they’ve used to inhale the gas.

"We usually fill between three and six bin bags each day at the weekend."

Nitrous oxide is being used by youths on the park, it has been alleged (Image: Supplied)

It was explained that those that use the playing fields for rugby and football always look after the site, but they have to do 'a sweep' of the pitches before they can be used safely, for fear of broken bottles having been left on the pitch.

The volunteer concluded: "We are volunteers so we can’t go on strike for better pay - we don’t get any - or for better equipment - again, we don’t get any."

Cheshire Constabulary has been made aware of the issue and has been contacted for comment.