Social media campaign over dog fouling begins

DOG fouling, dustbins and dumping were again on the councillors agenda at the Gorey Kilmuckridge Municipal District meeting in June.

During a discussion on environment, councillors heard that a social media campaign regarding dog fouling had begun, with a series of images and messages sent out to encourage all dog owners to pick up after their dog and dispose of the dog waste responsibly.

A key message was that the public can use any type of bag to dispose of the waste.

District Manager Michael Drea said that he suspected it to become less of an issue as the country comes out of lockdown.

Cllr Joe Sullivan agreed that it was an issue while Cllr Fionntán O Suilleabhain said that heavier enforcement was needed.

Mr Drea said that enforcement is a difficult one and so the council is promoting personal responsibility.

Councillors were told a Green Dog Walker campaign had begun and that dog walkers can apply online. They were also informed that judging for the Keep Wexford Beautiful competition would begin next month.

As well as this, the national spring clean is now taking place and applications are open via An Taisce or Wexford County Council.

‘In line with social distancing guidelines, a maximum of six people can take part and registration is open online for waste collection. A good few people have already signed up and bags will be collected at County Hall or Gorey Recycling Centre,’ the environment spokesperson said.

Councillor Mary Farrell asked about the emptying of public bins, and Councillor Willie Kavanagh highlighted dumping close to him.

Cllr Farrell described the situation as unfair on clean-up crews, and the fact that more people are using the bins being at home more as ‘no excuse’.

‘People want to know that particularly coming up to busy weekends along the coast that bins will be emptied. At the moment the capacity is higher but that’s still no excuse for them not to be emptied. I think there should be a penalty if they aren’t coming to come and clear them on a regular basis’.

Councillor Andrew Bolger raised the issue of vandalised signs at Ramsfort Woods and was told that this would be fixed.

He was also told that the vandalism at Gorey Skate Park had been fixed and that the park had now re-opened.

Councillors expressed concern about the same issue happening again, with Councillor Pip Breen raising the issue of CCTV.

District Manager Michael Drea told them that CCTV would be going in as part of the Town Park development, although a definite date on this later this year could not be provided.

He said he was waiting on an update after a site meeting but that the feeling for a provisional date was October or November and part of this was down to waiting for an appropriate planting season for tree planting at the town park.