COUNCILLORS have pledged their support in the fight against drugs following our front-page article highlighting the scale of the problem on the Hard Lane and Windlehurst estates.

Responding to a hard-hitting statement from local residents, Councillor Patricia Martinez-Williams contacted the Star to say that she, along with fellow councillors, Austin Whiteside and Andy Anderson, and council officers, are on hand to help with any drugs problems encountered on the estates.

Councillor Martinez-Williams, who helped to arrange a residents meeting at Cowley High School in an attempt to solve the local drug problem, said: "At the meeting last year most of the concerns raised were about drugs-related issues such as addicts wandering around the estates, certain tenants being suspected of being dealers, and dealers from outside the area operating from cars. Many fears were also voiced for the safety of youngsters on the estates due to discarded syringes.

"The majority of residents on Windlehurst and Hard Lane estates are decent people and it is totally understandable that they do not welcome drug addicts and dealers invading their estates. I have lived on the estates for most of my life and I can verify that there appears to be an increasing amount of obvious drug activity on both estates.

"There have also been some instances when the public appear to have taken the law into their own hands. But there are better ways to rid the estates of drugs. "Residents need to join together as residents' groups and Homewatch groups in order to work with councillors, council officers and the police in their battle against drugs. With a group voice no individual will feel vulnerable and we could get rid of the problems.

"Recently due to the vigilance of some residents a block of unused garages were identified as being a site used by many drug users. I raised the problems with the police and council officers and negotiations are now underway to demolish the garages in the near future.

"I would like to thank the residents of the Windlehurst and Hard Lane estates who took the time to write to the Star and I would like to urge them to use their concern, strength and energy in helping to fight against the drug abusers on the estates by forming residents associations and homewatch schemes.

"Remember we are the majority and the drug abusers are the minority. You have the power to remove this problem if you work in residents associations alongside your councillors, council officers and the police."

Anyone who finds a used syringe can contact the council's Syringe Removal Service on (01744) 456470; and anyone interested in setting up a residents association can contact the council's Tenants Liaison Officer Dianne Green on (01744) 456363.

IF you have any information regarding drug-related crime, contact the police Crimestoppers line in confidence on 0800 555 111.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.