Leitrim County Council needs to be “proactive rather than reactive” to a littering blackspot outside Drumsna.
The matter was raised by by Cllr Maeve Reynolds at a recent meeting of Carrick-on-Shannon Municipal District.
The councillor put down a motion asking that the council “urgently address the ongoing issue of illegal dumping in the Drumsna area, with particular attention to the two lay-bys off the N4. These locations have become persistent dumping sites. I request that appropriate enforcement, clean-up measures, and preventative actions be implemented to resolve this issue.”
A report from the roads department stated: “The environment department will place ‘no illegal dumping’ signage up at these locations. We will also ask our community wardens to monitor these areas on a weekly basis and to record and report any instances of illegal dumping. The community wardens will remove any waste present, where practicable. If the community wardens cannot remove the waste from these sites for any reasons, the environment department will liaise with the relevant area office for assistance in the removal of waste from the site.”
Cllr Reynolds said people are pulling up in the area and leaving black bags of household rubbish and that the matter has been reported six times.
She said a lot of volunteers have been out collecting rubbish in recent weeks.
She added: “I know the wardens cannot be out all the time but it is not fair on locals having to pick up rubbish.”
She added this is persistent blackspot and suggested the use of CCTV in the area.
“I am asking the council to be more proactive rather than reactive.”
Cllr Sean McGowan supported her motion saying: “This is a problem throughout the county. Bags of rubbish are being left under the cover of darkness. This a blight on our countryside.”
Cllr Enda Stenson agreed and said: “It is scandalous what is going on.” The meeting heard that there is an issue with CCTV as it is regarded as being intrusive on data privacy and it is only used for specific purposes.
Published under the Local Democracy reporting Scheme.
