The Joe Dolan Bridge.

Bridging the litter control gap

The dark evenings are likely to mean more walkers will be using routes that include the road over the Joe Dolan Bridge – but there's a complete dearth of litter bins in the area, local councillor Ken Glynn has complained.

At the Mullingar Municipal District meeting, Cllr Glynn said he had raised the issue before, but no bins have been provided.

“It's something I would like to see resolved,” he stated.

Director of services, Martin Murray, said the council has commenced “a full review” of bin locations and the aim was to minimise the number, and to have them in appropriate locations.

Cllr Glynn remarked that there had been a bin at the Lynn Road close to O'Brien's, but it appeared to have been removed when work was being done on the footpath. Mr Murray undertook to have that one replaced.

 

Council to consider using CCTV

The county council is to consider using CCTV cameras in a bid to catch those responsible for an ongoing illegal dumping problem at The Downs – and CCTV is already being used at Collinstown.

Cllr Mick Dollard told the most recent meeting of the Mullingar Municipal District that there is a “considerable” amount of dumping going on at the road at Wooddown, The Downs, leading down to the Coillte forestry.

He asked that ‘No Dumping’ signs be erected, but was told that in the first instance, the area would be considered for CCTV.

Cllr Frank McDermott asked when CCTV would be deployed at the bottle banks at Collinstown, and was told the mobile unit is there. “I'm absolutely delighted!” was his reaction.

“I can't understand how a person can bring a big cardboard box of tins and bottles and just leave it beside the bottle banks.” He went on to say he wanted it known among dumpers that the camera “will be monitored”.