Anti-dumping measures meet public approval, council find

Six anti-dumping initiatives have met with overwhelming public approval – the bikes for Africa scheme, the Amenity Warden Seasonal Patrols and clean-ups at Oaklawns, Mullingar and Battery Heights and Reynawn and Glenwood bogs in Athlone.

Eighty-three bikes left Mullingar on November 3 on the first leg of their journey to Africa and a similar consignment would have left Athlone except they were stolen. John Jackson, environment officer with the council, says that was a blow because “to be honest, these bikes need a lot of refurbishment and so really are not much use to those who stole them”.

Mr Jackson and the Mullingar and Athlone Rotary Clubs who were behind this initiative, were heartened by the public response. “We had people coming from as far away as Dublin to give us bikes when news got out of that setback,” he told the Environment Strategic Policy Committee last Friday.

They are thinking of putting a tracker on one of the bikes in the container to foil any similar attempt in the future.

“It was disappointing because we expected to have two shipments going at the same time in November, but we have moved on from it and have started gathering bikes again in both locations and we would expect them to be picked up again in the new year,” he said.

Amenity Wardens Seasonal Patrol was initiated by the environment section, led by Sean Clancy. The reception from the public was 100pc positive, and they had no issues with it, Mr Jackson reported.

It was a high visibility patrol throughout the summer and it was so successful the council extended it to the end of October. The wardens promoted the ‘Leave No Trace’ policy and if issues developed, they had a quiet word and they were on hand to advise and help visitors. It is likely to be reintroduced next year.

Paul McCool and his team transformed a black spot at Oaklawns, where illegal dumping and anti-social behaviour were problems. They removed a row of Leylandii hedging, removed trees and rubbish, levelled the ground, brought in top soil and now they are ready to plant it with trees and bedding and a small orchard.

This project was undertaken by the Mullingar Kinnegad Municipal District and Mr Jackson said it is something other areas might be interested in doing. He assured communities that the council would be happy to take on board suggestions.

The Battery Heights project in Athlone is similar to Oaklawns in that it involves a clean-up and tree planting. Reynawn and Glenwood bogs are both to be cleared of rubbish, but work has been curtailed by excessive growth this year and is due to get back on track this week.

Chairman, Cllr Frank McDermott, hailed the Bikes for Africa scheme as “a magnificent project” and congratulated the Rotary Clubs and all involved. Amenity warden patrols were “magic” and instilled confidence in residents and users of amenity facilities, he said.

As for the Oaklawns project, he declared: “Leylandii, I hate the bloody sight of them. No harm to have them gone,” and replaced with “species that can do the very same job”.

“Nothing as good as a good white thorn bush and I tell you, you’ll not be seen hiding under that too often,” Cllr McDermott chuckled.

Cllr Johnnie Penrose shared his abhorrence of Leylandii saying they bring “nothing but trouble”. He asked that something be done for Conlonstown Empor bog, which is “polluted with Japanese knotweed”. He had tried clearing it, but it was too big a job for one man and he urged the council to help.

Cllr Paddy Hill was disappointed at the way people dump on roads. “Get it out there again that those people show no respect by throwing sacks of rubbish along the roadside,” he declared.

It happens regularly on the road between Castlepollard and Finea, he said, as he called for greater surveillance there and at Sailor’s Garden in Finea, where “activities are taking place that should not be taking place” – “maybe a camera would help”.

“I have pity on our staff that have to go out and lift other people’s rubbish off the roadside and put it in bags and take it away. It is totally irresponsible and I couldn’t condemn enough the people who carry on in this way,” he concluded.