GLUE-SNIFFING and drug-taking are out of control at Chateau des Marais. About 20 empty glue tins and 200 plastic bags were discovered yesterday during the ancient monument’s weekly inspection.

Discarded prescription drug boxes were also among the debris and used hypodermic needles are also regularly found there.

Culture and Leisure Department minister Peter Sirett said he would today be calling an emergency meeting of those involved in the upkeep of the site.

‘We are taking the situation very seriously and the problem down there has become a lot worse than many people realise,’ he said.

‘I’m not sure that we can do anything other than bring this to people’s attention, but we will be reviewing the way we manage the site.’

Deputy Sirett said he feared someone would die at the chateau as a result of drug or substance abuse and said he could not understand the mentality of those doing it.

Four Norman Piette sales invoices for glue were found in the rubbish.

Norman Piette commercial director Clive Fenner issued an internal memo to all staff yesterday saying that solvents could have been sold to people for purposes other than those intended.

‘As a responsible company, we would not wish to be associated with any form of solvent abuse,’ he said.

Norman Piette staff have been reminded to be suspicious of people who might want to buy glue and nothing else – especially if they are unknown to them, display signs similar to drunkenness, or who have spots and sores around their mouth and nose, or are known abusers. Staff have also been told not to sell solvents or volatile substances that they suspect might be inhaled or swallowed.

Police said yesterday that it was not against the law for juveniles to buy glue.

An officer went to the chateau yesterday morning and moved two glue-sniffers from the site but they returned soon after the police presence had gone.

Three boys aged about 14 were also loitering in the area.

‘It’s been an ongoing problem with people sniffing glue in the area for some time and we patrol there as often as we can,’ said Sergeant Stuart Ogier.

‘We regularly liaise with DIY stores and any other shops in the area that sell glue products to tell them it is a substance that can be abused.

‘Some shops don’t sell strong glues to under-16s but there is no legal obligation,’ he said.

Deputy Sirett said the chateau was a difficult site to police. ‘It’s very open, away from prying eyes and not one that’s secure,’ he said.

He added that the department had overall responsibility for about 80 sites, which are maintained on a rotational basis.