Scourge of fly-tipping

Scourge of fly-tipping

22 January 2025

THE Irish Street car park in Downpatrick has emerged as the district’s latest fly-tipping hot spot.

Black bin bags brimming with domestic waste were illegally dumped last week, sparking concerns that the contents could attract vermin.

Business owners whose commercial bins are located in the car park have been forced to fit locks as they were being used by the public. 

Several bins were recently set on fire.

Local politicians and Newry, Mourne and Down Council — which is investigating the incident — have expressed concern about the unsightly fly- tipping and its impact on the environment and local authority resources.

Concern has also been expressed about the message bin bags brimming with waste and unceremoniously dumped on the ground sends out to residents and visitors who use the car park.

Some of the bin bags at the Irish Street car park have burst open scattering waste across the ground with the mess branded “unsightly” by several business owners.

Residents are also concerned with one asking why the issue has been allowed to continue over the years.

One resident, who did not wish to be named, said: “What sort of message is bin bags filled with rubbish and dumped in a car park sending out to visitors to Downpatrick? Why is this being allowed to happen?

“Such behaviour is unacceptable and must no longer be tolerated, especially in a town centre. What is going on in the minds of those who think they can dump their waste in a car park?”

The concerned resident, who contacted the Recorder, said Downpatrick town centre should not be blighted by the “reprehensible actions” of people who should know better.

“Ratepayers ultimately pick up the tab for clearing this waste away and it’s unfathomable that there are those who who want to turn parts of the district into rubbish tips.

“We all have a duty to deal with our rubbish responsibly and there is no excuse for illegal dumping,” the resident continued.

“There is just no respect any more and sadly there are those who view a car park as a dump which impacts on the environment with the clear-up paid for by ratepayers.”

The resident added: “It is shocking that people want to blight the area where they live with their own waste. The Irish Street waste is an eyesore.”

Downpatrick councillor Oonagh Hanlon has called for a focus on responsible waste disposal, highlighting ongoing concerns about fly-tipping at the Irish Street car park.

She said the  dumping not only placed financial pressure on ratepayers, but also posed risks to public health and the environment. 

“Local council refuse and and cleansing teams have been working to clear the waste from the car park which is very welcome,” she said.

“It is important to emphasise that such issues should be prevented from happening in the first place through proper waste disposal practices.

A Newry, Mourne and Down Council spokeswoman said cleansing staff have now removed the bags of household waste from the car park.

“To prevent future incidents of illicit dumping, all incidents are investigated by the council enforcement team with appropriate action taken as necessary prior to the waste being removed,” she added.