FEARS over children receiving needle stick injuries have been raised with the Council by concerned tennis club representatives after syringes were found in the hedge next to the court.
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The Examiner has had a spate of reports from members of the public recently regarding syringes being left in places that could cause injury.
Most recently a public campaign to rid play areas in Glen Innes parks of syringes has seen council workers move to rectify the problem.
President of the Glen Innes and District Tennis Association Peter Haselwood said syringes have been found recently in the hedge that surrounds the tennis courts and he fears a child retrieving a lost ball could be harmed.
“We have had an instance where a child who was poking about in the hedge during a tennis tournament, got a needle stick injury,” he said.
“We did speak with the council and they sent people in with the right gear on and retrieved syringes, but we are very perturbed about this.
“It is council land and we think the best course of action would be to remove the hedge all together.”
Mr Haselwood said the hedge has become a liability especially now that there is a full time tennis coach and therefore a good number of children using the courts.
Tennis Academy Coach Peter Cole said the hedge has become a problem because it is being used as cover to hide from police after vandalism sprees as well as a secluded place for local junkies to shoot up.
“My main concern is for the safety of my academy juniors,” he said.
“I do not let the junior players out of the court now during their coaching sessions but I am concerned for them after they leave my care.
“The other thing that could happen is someone who kicks a ball into the hedge and goes to get the ball could get a needle stick injury, we are just trying to find the best solution and we believe that is to remove the hedge.”
But Council Director of Development, Regulatory and Sustainability Services Graham Price said council had a report two years ago regarding a needle stick injury from the hedge but nothing recently.
“Until this week and my conversation with Mr Haselwood we weren’t aware of any recent issues,” he said.
“If it is a significant issue we would be happy for them to talk with us and to come up with a reasonable solution.”
Mayor Colin Price said he encourages the tennis club to put a submission in during the 28 days of public display for the draft operational plan.
"If they make a submission we will look at in terms of the budget and we may be able to come to a solution in the future," he said.