NEEDLES discarded by drug addicts have forced the closure of the public toilets at Shipley library.

Shipley councillor Martin Love (Green) revealed that 18 syringes, some contaminated with blood, had been found in the nappy and sanitary bin at the toilets, leading to their closure to protect the public.

Bradford Council said it would be “failing members of the public” in its duty of care if it left the facilities open in the current circumstances.

Coun Love said the issue was part of a growing problem in Shipley town centre, which included drug-taking and aggressive begging.

He said other places affected were the Asda store in the town and the Co-op in Saltaire.

The revelations followed problems, highlighted by the Telegraph & Argus in January, of day and night drug dealing on Shipley streets, including St Paul’s Road, Wycliffe Road, Park Grove and Baker Street.

Coun Love said problems with rough sleeping and begging, linked to drug taking, in the town centre, had reached high levels some months ago, but were reduced as a result of police action.

But he said it was now creeping up again.

He said he had meetings recently with police, council officers and drug rehabilitation workers, who told him the beggars could make significant amounts of money, which went straight to their drug dealer.

The councillor said: “The police do what they can, what they are allowed to do.

“But there are limits within the law.

“The beggars are not interested in food, they want the money for drugs.

“The majority of the begging is placid, but some of it is aggressive.

“I have seen people hanging around at drug drop off points, and people who are begging.”

Coun Love said it made people scared to go into the town centre, but the problem was not confined to Shipley and he had seen the same issues in Keighley.

“We are told there has been a lot of effort to drive these people out of Bradford city centre.

“But it just moves the problem, it doesn’t solve it.

“What we really need is the police to clamp down on the drug dealers and take them out of the equation, but there’s always someone else comes along. They are chasing round in circles. It’s a never-ending problem as long as there are people wanting drugs. I would urge people not to give money to the beggars, because it just goes to the drug dealers. Instead, give it to the agencies who are trying to help these people.”

Sergeant John Toothill, of the Shipley Area Neighbourhood Team, said police were working with partners to address begging and associated problems, such as the misuse and dealing of drugs.

He said: “This is an ongoing operation which not only aims to tackle the problem, but also address the causes by engaging with those who may need assistance with housing and other needs.

“Drug dealing and aggressive behaviour will not be tolerated and any concerns should be reported to our local officers, so we can take further action.

“Information about those involved in drug dealing can also be reported anonymously to the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.”

Maz Barker, services manager for Arch, a criminal justice intervention agency, which works with drug users in the criminal justice system, said they were aware of three beggars in the town centre currently.

She said Arch, which is based in Shipley Town Hall, worked positively with police and the Council on the issue.

She added: “We work closely with local businesses and we’ve not had any negative response from them. We have a crisis intervention team and we responded, with police and businesses, to the begging at Saltaire.”

A Bradford Council spokesman said: “Unfortunately all public toilets are open to misuse.

“We have had problems at the Shipley Library toilets.

“Sadly it is always the minority of people who spoil things for the majority.

“We are looking into solutions but we would be failing members of the public in our duty of care if we left them open so in the meantime they have to remain closed.”