Latest Laois News: ‘Losing battle’ against dumping in Laois bogs

Laois bogs hit by ‘off the scale’ dumping

This morning’s Borris-In-Ossory/ Mountmellick Municipal District (MD) meeting heard how bogs across the MD area are being blitzed by the blight of dumping. This came on foot of the following motion brought forward by Councillor John King

“That this Council support the Errill Tidy Towns Group in their efforts to deal with the dreadful amount of illegal dumping that is currently ongoing in three bogs around the picturesque village of Errill”

Cllr. King had this to say on the problem of dumping affecting bogs in his own area:

“I am from Errill. Dumping in these three local bogs is a dreadful problem and an eyesore. The rubbish included asbestos and household furniture. Dumping is not being done by local people. We are adjoining Tipperary. Schoolchildren (in the local school) were supplied with pickers and jackets and went out for one day. The next day they gave those pickers and jackets to another class. I spoke to Coillte yesterday and Coillte will support Laois County Council (LCC) ………….. and finish the major cleanup. We are losing the battle. We needs signs and CCTV. We need to name and shame them (the dumpers). I want to thank LCC, Errill Tidy Towns and local residents. I also want to thank the three ladies in LCC’s Environment Section. We have to put an end to this once and for all. People have to be penalised. 200 bags have already been collected (there). I have photos of the local children doing the clean up. I will forward these to the newspapers.”

Councillor James Kelly agreed wholeheardedly with Cllr. King’s motion. The Mountrath-based Councillor continued as follows:

“Dumping is a scourge in many of our communities. Dumping is going on and is off the scale. It’s a disgrace. And it’s spiralling out of control. We (the councillors) gets many calls about roads but also about dumping.”