Crumpled Horn: Safety fears as used needles found by toddler

Mum Alison Herbert issued a public warning earlier this week after her toddler ran up the steps to the balcony of the Grade II-listed Crumpled Horn, in Eldene, which was covered in used needles.

It has prompted calls for Admiral Taverns, which owns the now-closed watering hole, and the council to take action to protect the public.

The stairways to a balcony of the Crumpled Horn are accessible (Image: Newsquest)

Alison, 40, said: "Sadly when I picked her up from nursery earlier my toddler did a runner up those stairs and as I grabbed her at the top there are dirty needles everywhere.

"I reported it to the police who will monitor ongoing drug use, but they told me to report to the council for clean up.

"However, the council aren't interested due to it being on private property despite it being 20 metres from a nursery and primary school."

Read More: Landlady kicked out of troubled Swindon pub as council decides future

Alison told the Adver that she was concerned that no one was going to do anything about it despite it clearly posing a hazard to anyone who might go up the stairs, including children. 

She felt that Admiral Taverns should have also boarded up the stairway so that people didn't have access to the balcony area. 

The balcony area of the Crumpled Horn (Image: Newsquest)

"I guess where it is after the school and nursery are closed it’s pretty isolated there so ideal territory.

"Admiral Taverns should have boarded up the whole area just not the main doors and windows."

A reporter visited the pub site on the following Wednesday, and discovered a member of the public, Emma, cleaning up the area herself, armed with a small tub and some gloves. 

Emma believes that someone else had been there overnight to clean it up as she only found one needle, several needle wrappers, lots of orange needles end caps and several ripped-open packages of medical wipes used for cleaning injection areas. 

A needle and needle wrappers found on the Crumpled Horn balcony (Image: Newsquest)

"This is not safe or hygienic to just have all of this laying around and I should not have to be the one doing this," she said. 

In May, a Swindon Borough Council licensing committee heard how the pub had been a regular base of operations for criminal activity and drug dealing, so the decision was made to remove the landlord.

Read More: Crumpled Horn pub in Swindon lies closed down and boarded up

Despite the pub retaining its premises license in the same meeting, Admiral Taverns, who own it, made the decision to close it and boarded it up with metal sheeting.

The balcony of the building allows access to a 'beer garden', and then through there is access to a compound full of rubbish, abandoned pieces of furniture and other potentially dangerous objects. 

An open window allowing access to the inside of the pub can also be seen. 

A courtyard full of rubbish, abandoned pub objects and other dangerous hazards at the Crumpled Horn (Image: Newsquest)

Parish councillor for the area, Bazil Solomon, says he has raised the issue with both Wiltshire Police and the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner. 

He added: "I have asked for the drug dealing and use at Crumpled Horn to be investigated and for criminals to be arrested.

An open window to the inside of the Crumpled Horn building accessible by climbing on the roof near to where lots of signs of drug use were found (Image: Newsquest)

"I do not want the Swindon youth to be influenced by the growing British awful culture of drugs and gangs, and I do not want it to become prevalent in one of the best societies in the world."

Wiltshire Police, Swindon Borough Council and Admiral Taverns were approached for further comment. 

However, Alison has since confirmed to the Adver that Admiral has assured her they will send someone to have a look, but they might not be able to prevent access to the balcony.