A ‘post-apocalypse’ is how one councillor described an area of derelict garages where ‘needles, cocaine, cannabis and a crashed car’ were allegedly discovered prompting a clean-up operation.
Cllr Julia Wassell said she was “shocked” by the state of some garages near Auckland Road, in Totteridge, High Wycombe, after a resident in Hatters Lane alerted her about the service road area.
PICTURED: The crashed car found at the garages
The Wycombe Independent summoned a team to the site on Saturday, March 13, whereupon drug paraphernalia, an abandoned car, and evidence of fly-tipping were discovered.
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Cllr Wassell said Thames Valley Police (TVP), and Red Kite Community Housing who are responsible for the area, were notified.
She said both had treated the matter seriously and been helpful.
'It had a rather post-apocalyptic atmosphere with a crashed car, overgrowth and piles of litter and fly-tipping'
On social media, on March 12, Cllr Wassell wrote: “Unpleasant dumping area found in Totteridge. Apocalyptic atmosphere. Clear up in morning tomorrow 9-11am.”
When approached by the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS), Cllr Wassell said: “It is a pile of mess amidst derelict garages.
“Drugs were found but [the] powder blew away…we found needles, cocaine and cannabis evidence.
“We reported it to the police and Red Kite who are both taking it very seriously…and being helpful.”
PICTURED: Cllr Julia Wassell (left) and her clean-up crew
Speaking about the abandoned car, Cllr Wassell said: “Nasty looking thing crashed and embedded in a concrete upright.
“Parts of its interior were hanging out the door which we managed to force almost closed.”
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In response to her social media posting, someone replied: “Omg people are so disgusting.”
“Horrible,” wrote another.
Cllr Wassell said the area had now been cleared, adding: “I was pleased that a resident in Hatters Lane contacted me about the service road area.
“When I saw the area I was shocked that it had not been reported before. It is an area off the main footpath network, so I suppose not many knew of it.
“It had a rather post-apocalyptic atmosphere with a crashed car, overgrowth and piles of litter and fly-tipping.
“It soon became clear that the area had been used for drug dealing during lockdown and the police and housing association are taking the matter seriously. I thank my energetic volunteers for their efforts and would urge residents to ring 999 if there is drug dealing in progress, or 101 if a report has previously been made.”
PICTURED: What the garages look like now
Katie Wall, head of brand and communications at Red Kite Community Housing, said: “We would like to thank Cllr Wassell for bringing this to our attention and for reporting it to the police. We would like to ask that anyone who sees illegal activity in this area to report it to the police.
“We will be carrying out a clean up of the site and will continue to monitor the situation.”
A Thames Valley Police spokesman said: "[We] can confirm that we have received this report and it has been passed on to the local Neighbourhood Team to look into."
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