Illegal dumping in Drumsna highlighted

The issue of illegal dumping in the Drumsna area was raised at this week's meeting of Carrick-on-Shannon Municipal District.

Cathaoirleach Maeve Reynolds (FG) submitted a motion highlighting the problem.

"I ask that Leitrim County 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," the motion stated.

Speaking in the council chamber, Cllr Reynolds said that “people are pulling up and throwing rubbish out” at these two lay-bys.

“Some of this dumping is HGV drivers throwing out food bags. A lot of volunteers are cleaning up in this area. There could be a case for CCTV in these lay-bys,” Cllr Reynolds continued.

Cllr Sean McGowan (FF) supported the motion. “Some people are dreadful at littering. We have been discussing this issue for years, it is blight on the countryside,” he stated.

Cllr Enda Stenson (Ind) agreed, saying “it is a countywide issue and it is scandalous.”

Responding on behalf of the council, Administrative Officer Kieran Brett said that, “there is an onus on a local authority to prove that CCTV is necessary. Where CCTV is erected, there must be signage erected and there must also be public consultation.”

“If you erect CCTV in an area, you are moving the problem of littering on to another location,” he added.

Brett went on to say that “dumping is an area that requires education.”

The written response from the council 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."