Norwich anti-social behaviour blamed on lack of pharmacies

Local councillors have linked problems in the Town Close area with a shortage of pharmacies providing methadone prescriptions to people battling drug addiction.

They claim drug dealing and fights are happening in front of children, while syringes are left scattered on the floor.

The pharmacy in Vauxhall Street (Image: Dan Grimmer)

Emma Corlett, independent county councillor said: "There are ongoing significant issues in Town Close, due to the reduction in the number of pharmacies giving supervised methadone prescriptions across Norwich.

"My local, brilliant, community pharmacy in Vauxhall Street is one of the few that offers this service.

"Unfortunately, the impact is that it draws a lot of people from across the city, who are caught up in the chaos of addiction, who then remain in the area all day after picking up their prescription first thing in the morning.

"There's been a sharp rise in associated anti-social behaviour - fights and drug dealing, often within sight of local children.

"There's also the reckless discarding of drug paraphernalia, which is a public health issue."

Independent county councillor Emma Corlett (Image: Newsquest)

Ms Corlett said she had written to Bill Borrett, Norfolk County Council's cabinet member for public health. At a council meeting this week, she asked what action he had taken.

Bill Borrett, Norfolk County Council cabinet member for public health (Image: Bill Borrett) Mr Borrett said the Project ADDER scheme in Norwich was providing support, helped by several million pounds of funding from the previous government.

He said: "The issues of anti-social behaviour is one for the police, rather than the county council and the littering of the street scene is very much one for Norwich City Council.

"Norfolk County Council and its partners are investing more in Norwich on the issue of drug use, than pretty much anywhere else.

"I do believe we have a really robust and fit for purpose set of services here to support people suffering from substance abuse."

The National Pharmacy Association claims pharmacies are closing at a rate of seven a week, due to pharmacy budget cuts and increased medicine costs.

Closures in Norwich include Lloyds Pharmacies at Sainsburys in Pound Lane and Queens Road, plus Boots pharmacies at Anglia Square, Colman Road and Lawson Road.