16-02-2002

Council under fire on Mountmellick recycling

MOUNTMELLICK’S pioneering doorstep recycling scheme is receiving no encouragement from the County Council, Cllr Helen Hanson, one of its organisers, has alleged.

She told the Town Council monthly meeting last week: "It is not possible to continue (the scheme) on a voluntary basis."

She charged: "I don’t think we are making any effort in this county with recycling."

Town Clerk Roisín Walsh said the Director of Services had informed her that the County Council had made a once-off £1,500 payment to launch the doorstep-recycling scheme. The Co Council had not received an application (for funds) for 2002. The scheme organisers were welcome to approach the Co Council environmental section to discuss any difficulties, she added.

Cllr Hanson: "Have the Co Council any proposals to promote recycling? As far as I can see, very little is being done here. Other counties have given out free bins. I am disappointed that our initiative has not been taken up in other parts of the county."

Ms Walsh: "Can I suggest that you approach the environmental section?"

Chairman Marc Connolly said he was surprised and disappointed by what the Town Clerk had read out to the meeting. He stressed: "The Co Council should be encouraging similar schemes in every town in the county."

Cllr Hanson: "We are saving the Co Council a tonne of recycled material from going into the landfill every two months."

Cllr Gerard Doody: "It’s flabbergasting that they (Co Council) never picked up on the initiative started by the Tidy Towns Committee."

He said people would not pay the increased waste collection charges and were handing back refuse bins. He warned: "This is probably going to lead to illegal dumping."

Cllr Denis O’Meara complained of dumping at Bay Road and other areas. He claimed: "A lot of people cannot afford the charges."

Cllr Hanson: "A lot of black bags are going into the river."

Chairman Connolly: "The Co Council are committed to bringing those people to court. It will not be tolerated no matter what it costs."

Cllr Tony Kirwan told of seeing a fellow with a lamp "topping up" dustbins with his own refuse.

Cllr Patrick Bowe recalled that people had refused to pay £10 a year to the Co Council to collect their waste. Now, he noted, there was no waiver scheme. He believed rubbish should be charged by weight rather then by the bin. Illegal dumping could, he cautioned, become a health hazard.

Deputy Co Manager Peter Scully said he would talk to the Director of Services about the possibility of given assistance to the recycling scheme.

He described the litter problem as an "absolute scandal." To deal with it, the Co Council was spending over €7,600 a week, he revealed.

Cllr David Conroy said milk, soups and soft drinks should all be sold in glass bottles which could be reused.

No Harbour parking berths

Road refurbishment work at Harbour Street/Lord Edward Street creating more flooding and parking problems than had been there before? A fear expressed by Mountmellick Town Councillors at their monthly meeting last week.

Town Clerk Roisín Walsh said the engineer had stated that underground telephone ducts would prevent the provision of parking bays in the area, even though the preliminary plans for the scheme had envisaged such bays.

Cllr Paddy Bracken: "Surely the engineer should have known the problem was there already?"

Cllr Denis O’Meara: "There’s a little bit of a u-turn done on it now."

Cllr Bracken: "I’m totally disappointed. That (parking bays) is what we told the people was going to be done."

Ms Walsh: "I will convey your sentiments to the engineer."

Cllr Tony Kirwan said the footpaths in Harbour Street/Lord Edward Street area were too high.

Chairman Marc Connolly: "The people of Lord Edward Street and Harbour Street suffered so long because theirs was the worst approach road. Surely the job should be done properly?"

Cllr Helen Hanson thought it would be terrible if the refurbishment scheme created more problems than it solved.

Cllr David Conroy said it would be crazy if the resurfacing of the streets led to more flooding.

Cllr Patrick Bowe said he had received complaints that Harbour Street gullies were filled in. He had similar complaints about the area near the hospital, he added.

The County Council did not intend to acquire a site beside the cemetery at Acragar.

Town Clerk Roisín Walsh told Mountmellick TC monthly meeting last week.

Cllr David Conroy said if the site were jointly developed for parking by the Co Council and GAA it would be of enormous benefit to both organisations.