Fuel waste epidemic costs Newry Council £35,000 in one month
Sinn Féin Councillor Packie McDonald has slammed those responsible for dumping four containers of fuel waste on the roadside at Dromintee recently. Councillor McDonald went to inspect the containers following contact from local residents who were extremely concerned that this toxic material had been left near to a children’s playgroup.
“This is a terrible mess”, Councillor McDonald said, “As the photographs show, this sludge is seeping out onto the ground where it will no doubt eventually reach and contaminate local waterways. Also, there is a children’s playgroup just adjacent to this piece of land so it poses a great risk to local kids who might venture down this way.”
McDonald urged private landowners to take responsibility for their land saying, “In most cases the Council bears the brunt of removing this filth but I would caution local landowners to make their lands secure or they themselves may face the cost of the cleanup operation.”
McDonald’s comments come following confirmation by Newry Council that in the past month alone Newry & Mourne District Council has spent in excess of £35,000 removing and disposing of dumped fuel waste across the District.
Commenting on this the Slieve Gullion Councillor added, “People must realise that this is money which will come from ratepayers and which will mean less money available to council to provide all of the amenities which local people enjoy. Just look at the mess left behind here in Dromintee – the contrast between the spectacular scenery and natural environment of this area and the toxic sludge left here to seep anywhere it wants to will not be lost of local people.”
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