THE town's local councillors have united in shock and disgust following the news that a 12 year-old boy was stuck with a used needle while playing in his own garden.
The boy, a pupil of South Esk Primary School, is facing up to an agonising wait to discover if he has contracted Hepatitis B as a result of the incident.
The councillors – themselves all parents - expressed deep concern over the incident, especi
ally as it occurred so close to South Esk Primary School, and they've called on tougher action to be taken by the police, government, and the community itself to tackle the scourge of drugs.
Sandy West was lost for words after hearing about the appalling incident and urged junkies to think of the consequences of their actions.
He said: "I was shocked by it and I'm at a loss as to how to explain it.
"When I was growing up in this area, drugs were something you took when you had a sore head.
"Montrose is like any other small community where, maybe 20-30 years ago, drugs were something you read about in the cities and we never dreamed it would be in Montrose.
"Obviously, the user didn't give a second thought to the fact there was a school nearby.
"I don't think Montrose is any better or worse than anywhere else, but we've got to face up to the fact that drugs are being used in the community.
"I'd appeal to these users' better sides - if they have one."
David May, himself a former head-teacher, said there needed to be a co-ordinated approach to tackling drugs.
He said: "It is appalling and it is worrying to find used needles anywhere, but it is much more worrying if it is close to a school.
"The sort of people that are involved in drugs are not sometimes fully aware of what they are doing.
"It's difficult to say what more could be done. It's about getting all the relevant agencies - police, government, social work and councils – to work together to tackle drug abuse.
"If a youngster finds a needle, it is quite important they report it to an adult as quickly as possible.
"But more needs to be done to reduce the number of people getting involved in this sort of thing."
Paul Valentine said: "It's disgusting that people are throwing their needles away in this manner. There is no reason for these needles to be dropped as there are needle exchange programmes.
"It's not just in Montrose, but Montrose is my main concern. I want to make sure that everything that can be done is being done so that I've never got to read a headline like that again.
"It gets to the point where we think to ourselves – can we let our kids out? That's a terrible thing, worrying about whether your kids out to play in case there are needles. It's frightening.
"The whole community has to do all it can to tackle this.
"I can only sympathise with the family of the boy involved. It's a horrible thing to have hanging over you and I really hope for the best for the young lad."
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