USED needles, empty cans and fast food wrappers have been found strewn over a car park in Sedgley that is “blighted by unsavoury behaviour”.

Sedgley councillor Bill Etheridge is urging Dudley Council to “take back control” of Bilston Street car park, which he described as an “intimidating” place.

He said the facility is now a meeting place for young drivers, who are leaving marks on the tarmac due to rapid acceleration and hand brake turns.

Cllr Etheridge said there is also litter, evidence of soft and hard drugs use - including used needles - and a vacant council office, adjacent to the car park has recently been the victim of four arson attacks.

“Dudley Council need to take back control of this situation,” said cllr Etheridge, who is also a West Midlands MEP.

“Residents have been reporting it to me, not just those who live nearby, but also users of the car park.

“Left unchecked, this will have adverse effect on the profitability of local retailers.”

He continued: “My office will be reporting this to the police but at the same time, I’m calling on the council to utilise the CCTV that is already in place, so that these drug using car drivers can be caught.

“The atmosphere there is very intimidating and a concerted effort must be made to rid the area of the problem.”

The council will be speaking to its police partners to see what can be done to tackle the “unacceptable” behaviour, according to Councillor Karen Shakespeare, cabinet member for environmental services.

She said: “Our enforcement officers patrol the car park - which has a Safer by Design Award - regularly and will remain vigilant. We will also organise an extra clean up at the site to resolve any litter issues.

“In the meantime, I would urge people to be the eyes and ears of the community and report any criminal incidents to police as soon as possible.”

Cllr Shakespeare added that the former estate office has been declared “surplus to requirement” and is currently under offer.