CCTV only way to catch illegal dumping
A repeated call is being made to put CCTV cameras at litter hotspots in Drogheda, to curb the recent increase in fly tipping on town centre streets.
Speaking at the recent meeting of Drogheda Borough District Council, Deputy Mayor Richie Culhane offered to use his community grant to help fund a private security firm if it helped put a stop to the recent ‘epidemic of illegal dumping’.
“Everybody in this room knows where the hotspots are in the town for illegal dumping, and it seems the only way to deal with it, is to catch them in the act and fine them,” said the Fine Gael councillor.
“I suggest going to a security company and getting a costing for using a camera for a week or a month, and if that means using my allocation of €1,000 from the community grant, I think it would be money well spent.”
Senior Executive Willie Walsh said they are aware of the complaints and in the last few months, an extra litter warden has been deployed on a full-time basis.
“We are progressing the litter situation, and I will have to investigate if public funds could be used for hiring a private company,” he told the meeting.
“We are finding evidence and issuing fines to people we find dumping waste around the town.”
Cllr Joanne Byrne added most of the hard work is being left to voluntary groups and we need to ‘get real’ and put in cameras to catch those responsible.