'Idiots' dumping in Athy & surrounds
Photo for illustrative purposes only
CALLS have been made for the roll out of CCTV across Athy and surrounding areas to counter what a local councillor described as “idiots” ruining the local countryside through illegal dumping.
At the most recent meeting of Athy Municipal District, cllr Brian Dooley motioned “that the council rolls out the installation of CCTV cameras in the municipal district, similar to those in Edmund Rice Square, in areas with high levels of illegal dumping”.
The motion by Fianna Fáil colleague cllr Veralouise Behan.
A report issued by senior executive officer in the environment department at Kildare County Council Ken Kavanagh said the council will look at rolling out CCTV at “selective locations” within the municipal district area in consultation with the elected members.
The report added that the deployment of CCTV is subject to the availability of funding as well as national guidelines and code of practice related to the use of CCTV in preventing, detecting and prosecuting waste and litter offences.
Cllr Dooley, appearing at the meeting through virtual means, expressed his satisfaction with the answer and further detailed that there are areas around Athy that experience “serial illegal dumping”.
He noted that the Stradbally road had been previously most badly affected by the issue but that currently the Carlow road is “absolutely being destroyed with people throwing bags of rubbish out their windows or out of their cars”.
He asked if a mobile CCTV system could be implemented. According to cllr Dooley, more than €2.7 million was spent on illegal dumping last year, applying the caveat that he could be wrong with the exact figure.
He described the situation as “taxpayers money getting wasted on these, I wouldn’t even call them people, these idiots, that are going around destroying our countryside”.
Cllr Behan said that she has litter-picked on the Carlow road and has found items such as a wash-hand basin and pedestal in the ditch.
The success of the CCTV at Edmund Rice Square was noted at the meeting, with an official from the council noting that over 80% of fines issued have been paid.
Cllr Dooley commented that “it’s no harm if a couple of them (illegal dumpers) go to jail”.
