Fly-tipping remains scourge forBond’s Street and other areas

Waterside Councillor for the new Derry City and Strabane District Counci, David Ramsey, met with Lloyd Magee, Chairman of the Bond’s Street Community Association, Siobhan Fitzgerald, from Derry City Council’s Environmental Health Department, and Mr McNutt, who is a resident, last Thursday (November 20) to discuss the ongoing problem.

As recently as September angry Bond’s Street residents said fly-tippers who dumped dozens of bags of rubbish near a community play park were showing scant regard for the health of children living in the area.

Mr Ramsey said: “This meeting was about the on-going issue with illegal dumping in Bond’s Street and the surrounding area.”

He said he’d been working with Mr Magee on the issue for a number of months and that the local community worker confirmed it was having a major negative impact on the community.

The DUP Councillor added: “Lloyd Magee said this has become a very major issue for local residents and is creating an environmental hazard for children and adults because rats have been spotted in the vicinity of the rubbish.

“The community are working with the authorities to try and have those responsible held accountable which if successful should help to eradicate this issue. The Council have now on a number of occasions lifted this rubbish and Lloyd Magee is asking people to stop this very irresponsible behaviour and help keep the area tidy.

“Also a number of blue bins have been left and not emptied because of contamination, these will be removed and if the owner wants them back they will have to pay a fee.”

The Council says its working to alleviate problem of illegal dumping of bin refuse in lanes generally across Londonderry and is encouraging the public to dispose of any excess waste at the local Civic Amenity sites.

Conor Canning, the Head of Environmental Services at Derry City Council said the issue of waste in lanes and alleyways is a serious problem.

He explained that while Council has no legal responsibility to clear lanes as they are private property, the Council receives regular complaints and works with communities in addressing issues raised.

He explained: “The majority of these lanes are private property, they belong to the houses attached to them or to whomever they pay their ground rent. It is the residents’ responsibility to use their bins properly, to present them correctly on collection day and to bring them back in after collection.”

Urging people to avail of the free collection service provided by Council or to take excess waste to the civic amenity site, Conor Canning said if residents were using their bins properly then there should be no problems with excess waste.

He added that Council will investigate refuse dumped in the lanes by checking the waste for identification so that a Fixed Penalty Notice can be issued.

“Derry City Council is happy to work with residents and local community groups in an effort to raise awareness of the problems and to look at preventative measures. We are happy to work with elected members and local representatives in assisting communities clean up of these areas but would like to remind residents that they have responsibility for their waste and must dispose of it properly” he said.

Further information on waste management services at Derry City Council can be found at www.derrycity.gov.uk/recycle