Call to deal with perpetual fly-tipping in Downpatrick

Call to deal with perpetual fly-tipping in Downpatrick

13 July 2016

A DOWNPATRICK businessman has called for an action plan to deal with a series of issues at one of the town’s busiest car parks.

Oliver Sloan said vermin and fly-tipping are two key issues which need to be dealt with immediately, in addition to providing a secure area for waste bins belonging to local traders.

He claims to have killed around a dozen rats over recent weeks and has urged those responsible for the car park to take steps to ensure it is properly maintained.

Mr Sloan met with South Down MLA Colin McGrath last week to outline his concerns and said staff at his business which backs on to the car park regularly brush the area. The businessman confirmed he has also taken a lease on a piece of waste ground where he believes vermin are located and plans to clean the area up.

“Rats and fly-tipping are problems which those in charge of this car park need to tackle,” he declared. “If there was half as many people employed to clean the town as there are traffic wardens the Irish Street car park would be in a much healthier state and certainly more hygienic. Traders’ figures in Downpatrick are demoralising and we need to arrest this decline.”

Mr Sloan also highlighted an area of concern between the car park and the boundary wall of the former police base. He said the overgrown area is a “breeding ground for rats” and must be cleared.

He continued: “We need more emphasis to keep this car park and indeed the town centre clean and presentable. I believe we have a serious vermin problem in this car park which needs to be addressed. The place is an eyesore and a young child who got out of a car last week was stung by nettles in the area close to the former police base.

“People are driving to the car park to dump their waste in the area where bins belonging to local businesses are located. There is surely a case for building a small compound to house the bins and provide business owners with a key to deter those too lazy to dispose of their own waste. When the bins are emptied and it is windy, they can be blown into parked cars and damage them.”

Mr McGrath said the car park is under the control of Transport NI with responsibility passing to Newry, Mourne and Down Council this October. He suggested ahead of the formal handover, the local authority should be asking to start work now to address the issues highlighted by Mr Sloan.

“Clearly there are issues that need to be addressed. The car park is not safe, it is unsightly and this is not a good image for Downpatrick,”he declared. “There is a need for a sharp increase in the amount of action on the ground immediately and for businesses at this part of the town to feel they are loved and looked after. 

“This situation would not be acceptable in Newcastle or Warrenpoint and is most certainly not acceptable in Downpatrick. With Transport NI due to hand the car park over to the local council in October then it should be asking to start carrying out the work that is required now and not wait several more months.”

A spokesman for Newry, Mourne and Down Council said the Irish Street car park is a paying car park, with Transport NI responsible for its maintenance and pest control until this October when this responsibility transfers to the local authority.

“The Council does clean the entrance as an adopted area, however, a small section in this area is in private ownership, which we do not cover. Our environmental health department has received no specific complaints about rats at this location,” he added.

A Transport NI spokeswoman said cleaners found no evidence of any rat activity in the car park during their visit on Wednesday of last week or on previous visits.

She added: “However, the cleaners reported that gulls were pulling out rubbish from overflowing commercial bins at the rear of businesses which back onto the car park. The local council has been informed of this.”