New get-tough policy on fouling

New get-tough policy on fouling

17 April 2019

TWO local councillors have welcomed a new get-tough policy on fly-tipping, dog-fouling and litter louts in the area.

Newry, Mourne and Down Council announced last month that it was to hire additional staff to deal more robustly with all three scourges which have caused considerable concern.

The council decided to act following a workshop attended by council management and councillors.

Taking a lead in the discussions were Independent councillor Cadogan Enright and the DUP’s Billy Walker, who have welcomed the announcement that the council is to employ three additional enforcement staff.

The workshop followed research published by Cllr Enright which revealed that Ards and North Down Council fined three times more people in a month than Newry Mourne and Down fined in a year.

Cllr Enright was supported by Cllr Walker in bringing a hard-hitting motion to the council condemning council management performance and demanding that they learn from nearby councils.

He said: “Management had been telling us that the legislation was not fit for purpose, making it near impossible to fine anyone dog-fouling, littering or fly-tipping. My research gave the lie to this.”

Cllr Walker said: “The resulting workshop was a wake-up call for management and councillors about what other councils were doing.

“I was able to provide examples from Castlereagh and we agreed that management should bring us a report back on hidden cameras for notorious fly-tipping spots or on-uniform personal cameras for enforcement staff in dealing with littering.

Cllr Walker added: “Resolving the dog-fouling, littering and fly-tipping scandal is a key area of ongoing interest for myself and Cllr Enright, and 

if we are returned in the new council we will ensure that all actions promised by management are implemented in full.”