ILLEGAL dumping remains prevalent in the county, with the latest site uncovered in the Derryhooley area of Teemore just last week.
Local councillor Bernice Swift revealed how she received a letter from an anonymous resident in the area, who alerted her to the illegal fly tipping and ‘demanded’ immediate action.
In response the councillor contacted Technical Services at Fermanagh District Council who have made a report to NIEA for action to be taken.
Councillor Swift explained: “Having been made aware by a letter and photographic evidence about illegal dumping at Derryhooley in Teemore, I contacted a local resident Joe Cox and met on site to view what could be done in getting it removed.
“I witnessed a substantial amount of very unsightly and unwanted rubbish varying from household waste, tins and clothing to building materials all dumped along the side of the road and pushed into a ditch in an attempt to conceal.
“Certainly a mess nobody would want in their area.
“I swiftly responded by tasking an immediate investigation by our Technical Services team within Fermanagh Council.
“The Investigation has established this illegal dump is on private ground and it is the responsibility of NIEA to deal with in this specific case.
“I have been assured that NIEA have been contacted to start the process to remove as soon as possible this unsightly mess and establish where this dumping may be coming from ensuring it does not happen again.”
Local resident Joe Cox told the Herald these acts of dumping were nothing new, with the site regularly used over the years to deposit waste.
“It has been area of dumping down through the years, it’s a place called the red bog. It is an area of bogland and I believe an area of some sort of preservation order.
“They’re dumping old manure from farm yards, also there is a big skip load of items left there. Black polythene, shoes, household waste, white polysterene, it’s an awful mess.”
Asked if he any clue who was dumping, Joe admitted he was in the dark.
“I have no idea, not in the slightest who’s doing it.
“It’s dumped well in at the side of the road, about two yards from the edge of the road. It is very noticeable, it’s a skip load and is as big as a car or bigger.
“I’m involved in the environmental protection of the area and I don’t like to see this type of behaviour.
“It is an eyesore and I haven’t checked, but there may well be food in the waste which could attract vermin.
“It’s out of my hands though, councillor Swift is now on to the council about it. I just want it cleaned up end of story. I would like to see a notice put up that says ‘no dumping’, because it is an eyesore.
“It makes a mess of the whole area when people could go to Kinawley which is about five or six miles away and dump the waste at the proper facilities.”
Joe suggested one reason for the increased dumping in the area.
“I think the problem is when they closed the dump in Derrylin, which could have been about five years ago, but then again this has always been a traditional dumping area and you would always get stuff thrown into the bog.”
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