A Buncrana councillor
has hit out at people who are creating a "major
eyesore" at bottle banks beside the town's tourist
office.
The Council was forced last week to screen off the
"total disaster area" at Railway Road, as the summer
season got underway.
But the issue has created much debate among local
representatives who questioned the suitability of
bottle banks located beside the tourist office.
Photographs showing a mound of cardboard boxes, bin
liners full of household rubbish and other waste
lying at the foot of the recycling bins, were
circulated at the recent monthly meeting.
An incensed Cllr. Paul Bradley said screening would
only exacerbate the problem.
"It's an absolute thundering disgrace what the
people of Buncrana are doing down there. And now
we're going to hide what dirty so and so's we are. I
would love to see some prosecutions taking place,"
he raged, apologising for his forthright views. "The
public of Buncrana must take responsibility for
this. We live with these people and they are dumping
willy nilly saying 'ah, sure the Council will clean
up after us'. Well I'm fed up with it. Show a bit of
respect for your town," he added.
Town manager, Liam Kelly vowed to bring prosecutions
against anyone found dumping illegally.
Cllr. Rose Cullen, a member of the local Tidy Towns
committee, said she was part of a clean-up on the
Shore Front the previous weekend. "What I lifted
down there was a disgrace," she said.
Cllr. Padraig MacLochlainn challenged those who
litter to "have a bit of civic pride". However, he
revealed: "The litter warden for Inishowen has been
off for months and months."
Outgoing Town Mayor, Joe Doherty, said the bottle
banks were "in the wrong place" and he urged the
officials to find a more suitable location.
Cllr. Nicholas Crossan said the only solution was a
civic amenity site for Buncrana. "We should go
directly to the Department of the Environment and
demand a civic amenity site if Donegal County
Council won't give one to us. We're the second
biggest town in Donegal and we haven't a place to
put a bottle." Cllr. Dermot McLaughlin claimed he
had "never seen a litter warden in Buncrana".
Meanwhile, Cllr. Daren Lalor said screening would
only lead to more dumping as people using the site
would be hidden from public view. |
