THE town's public toilets could become "a haven for drug users" if plans to install used needle collection bins goes ahead, says a town councillor.

John Cook (Lab - Droit. West) spoke out after it emerged Wychavon District Council, Turning Point and Worcestershire Primary Care Trust were discussing ways in which they could place the bins - known as sharps boxes - in the town's toilets.

He and other town councillors think the initiative, if given the go-ahead, could have a "disastrous" outcome.

"Locating the sharps boxes in public toilets, I think, would make a bad situation worse," said Councillor Cook.

"Surely, having the boxes in the toilets will encourage people to take drugs in there and, probably, will also encourage drug dealing because it will be out of sight from the public and police.

"The toilets will, no doubt, become a haven for drug users and innocent townspeople will be terrified to use them.

"It's a ridiculous suggestion and not the way forward."

The leader of Droitwich Spa Town Council, Cllr Pam Davey (Con - Droit.South) told the Advertiser she was horrified by the suggestion.

"I think this is an ill thought-out idea which could prove disastrous," she said.

"I do think there is a need for a disposal box in Droitwich but the public toilets aren't that place."

Cllr Davey said she would be seeking her colleagues' views on the matter ,who would then possibly invite a representative of the primary care trust to discuss the issues with them.

A Wychavon District Council spokeswoman said: "We are looking into providing sharps boxes in public toilets in partnership with Turning Point and the primary care trust."

She stressed that nothing had been finalised and the talks were still under way.

Turning Point's service manager, Richard Allsup, said: "We are looking at providing the sharps boxes in Droitwich in an attempt to decrease the number of wrongly discarded needles in the area.

"This initiative is running in Worcester and is a very well used service."