Newry Councillor calls for fly-tipping clampdown in city

Newry SDLP Councillor Michael Savage has said that fly-tipping is getting out of control in the city and has called for a clampdown on those responsible.

Councillor Savage made the comments as Council staff had to clear two major areas of fly-tipping this week across the city.

Speaking to Newry Times, he said, “It is time that the people who are dumping their rubbish at will across the city are held to account and I will be pushing for enforcement where fly-tippers can be identified.

“In recent weeks I have had concerned residents in two areas of the city contact me to complain about rubbish and major household items being dumped without any consideration for the local community.

“Members of Derrybeg Boxing Club contacted me after they discovered a ‘mini dump’ had been created inside the perimeter fence of their premises with major items such as sofas, fridges and other commercial waste items left behind by tippers.

“I requested Council staff go out to clear the area and they had to bring in a heavy lorry to take the rubbish away such was the size and scale of the items left behind.

Savage continued, “Whoever did this has no regard for the people of the local community who live there or the members of the club who are trying to give something back to the young people of the area.”

Councillor Savage said he was also contacted about fly-tipping in the Baggot Street/Sandys Street area of the city. “The front garden of an empty boarded up premises on Sandy Street was full to the brim behind the garden wall and was starting to attract vermin.

“It appeared to be household waste that was being dumped at will. This is a main entry point to our city from South Down and this eyesore was what greeted people coming to our city.

“Council staff went out and cleared the area and I have asked that the area is monitored on an ongoing basis to ensure the fly-tippers are caught and held accountable.

He added, “I would like to pay tribute to the cleansing team at the Council for their swift response in dealing with these issues and I would appeal to those responsible to stop this now and warn them that if they are caught they will face legal action from the Council.”

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Posted by Newry Times News on Jan 24 2019. Filed under Community. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry