Tonnes of rubbish collected off N4

ALMOST 1.5 tonnes of litter was gathered from alongside the N4 dual carriageway before the Easter break, the April meeting of Sligo County Council was told yesterday (Monday).

Director of Infrastructure, Environment and Fire Services Tom Kilfeather was responding to a motion from Cllr Sinead Maguire which called for the organisation of teams to pick litter from roadsides, or for the council to assist local community groups in their efforts.

Cllr Maguire said that the litter issue is particularly apparent at present on roadsides, but acknowledged the “remarkable” work that community groups such as the Tidy Towns do in their respective areas.

Cllr Hubert Keaney called for an awareness or education campaign in relation to littering, while Cllr Michael Clarke said it could be useful to designate a day for communities to engage in a countywide clean-up.

Mr Kilfeather said that twice yearly a council team helps collect litter from the roadsides of the N4, and also confirmed that funding had been made available for the cleaning of Carrowtemple Bog and Rathbraughan in Sligo town.

Responding to a question from Cllr Maguire about the possible use of CCTV for monitoring littering, Mr Kilfeather said the council has used cameras already in certain areas and this has resulted in prosecutions. Cllr Maguire also called on the Council to apply for funding to implement anti-dumping initiatives at known black spots to stamp out illegal dumping.

Almost 1.5 tonnes of litter was collected along the N4 dual carriageway in Sligo. Pic: Donal Hackett.

Brendan Sands (Sligo Branch), Philip Watt CEO CF Ireland and Lisa Pepper (CF Northern Ireland) at the Cystic Fibrosis Ireland annual conference, Crowne Plaza Hotel, Dundalk, on April 6th and 7th.