Appeal to lake litterers: ‘Bring your crap home’
Image 1 of 3
Early morning swimmers had gathered rubbish other people had left near the diving boards at Lough Owel, and county council workers were out on Monday morning to clear it up and take it away. They now appeal to all visitors to take their rubbish home with them.Image 2 of 3
County council workers were out early on Sunday and Monday mornings to clear up the rubbish other people had lift near the diving board at Lough Owel.Image 3 of 3
County council workers were out early on Sunday and Monday mornings to clear up the rubbish other people had lift near the diving board at Lough Owel.People spending time at Westmeath’s lakeside amenities are being urged to “bring their crap home” after piles of litter were left at Lough Owel and other sites over the weekend.
The warm weather drew large numbers to the lakes throughout the weekend, but the increased activity also saw a marked rise in the amount of litter left behind at Lough Owel, Lough Ennell and Lough Lene.
At Lough Owel, council staff had to clean up on Sunday and Monday mornings after visitors had left piles of beer cans, bottles and other rubbish. In scenes, not dissimilar to the aftermath of a musical festival, numerous towels were also left behind on the grass area near at the diving boards.
Paul Heduan swims at the diving boards early every morning. Speaking to the Westmeath Examiner, he says that he was “absolutely livid” when he saw the large scale littering on both Sunday and Monday mornings.
While praising the council’s outdoor workers for the speed at which they removed the rubbish on both mornings, he says that he and his fellow early morning dippers were shocked and angered by the large amount of litter left on Saturday and Sunday nights.
“I am really sick to see it. It is a picture postcard place to come. It is shocking and really annoying.
“I don’t mind people having a few beers and having a party, but bring your crap home with you.
“I am going there since last October and these were the first couple of mornings that I have seen it this bad. I know it happened last year and other years, but it is an absolute disgrace.”
A member of the recently formed environmental group, Westmeath Environmental Climate Action Group (WECAN), he says that the authorities have to do more to deter people from leaving behind their litter after an evening’s drinking.
“It is a fantastic amenity to have on our doorsteps. They send guys out to mow grass and the council workers were out early yesterday morning, but they shouldn’t have to do that.
“There needs to be greater enforcement and monitoring. The technology is there now. It can’t be that expensive to install some sort of camera.
“In the interim, send out a litter warden on a bank holiday weekend, Sunday evening or whenever the weather is good. Have resources allocated to send someone out who has some clout and will actually follow through on fining people.
Continued on page 11