Anger as tyres dumped again near Saintfield

Anger as tyres dumped again near Saintfield

24 April 2013

ANOTHER quantity of old car tyres has been illegally dumped at the Cahard Road area outside Saintfield.

There have been a number of similar incidents over recent months with the latest coming last week when around 15 tyres were dumped in a field close to the old Cahard railway bridge.

Several weeks ago, 82 tyres were dumped in the same area on land belonging to the Belfast and Co. Down Railway Museum Trust.

Saintfield councillor Robert Burgess said police have been informed about the latest dumping incident.

He has no doubt local people are responsible for the illegal dumping as strangers to the area would have trouble finding their way to Cahard Bridge where the over 150 tyres have now been dumped.

“Railway officials revealed last month that they were considering erecting security cameras in a bid to identify those responsible for illegally dumping these tyres, a number of which look as though they have been removed from high performance cars,” explained councillor Burgess.

“We need to apprehend whoever is responsible for what is in effect an environmental crime and whatever measures help achieve that must be considered.”

The Rowallane councillor said anyone caught dumping tyres faces prosecution under the Waste and Contaminated Land (NI) Order and could be fined up to £50,000 or jailed for six months.

“People who break any laws, particularly those that relate to the environment, should be heavily penalised. I hope whoever is behind the repeated dumping of tyres in Saintfield will be apprehended,” he declared.

Councillor Burgess described the fact there have been a number of illegal dumping incidents at the Cahard Road area as “worrying” and believes the culprits may well live locally.

He added: “If you are not familiar with this particular location, finding Cahard Bridge for people who are not from the area would be difficult. This is what leads me to believe locals may involved in this crime.”

Councillor Burgess has appealed to anyone who knows anything about the illegal dumping or sees anyone acting suspiciously at this part of Saintfield to contact police.