Council criticised over town rubbish

Council criticised over town rubbish

31 July 2013

A BALLYNAHINCH man has rejected council health and safety concerns that leave a grassy bank in the town strewn with litter.

Mr. James McKeown said he had requested that the local authority tackle the takeaway wrappers, bottles, polystyrene boxes and receipts that clutter the area behind the Belfast Road on a number of occasions.

He said the steepness of the bank, however, was cited as a reason why council litter-pickers bypassed this part of their route.

“When I spoke to the council the first time they refused, the second time they said it was because of health and safety,” said Mr. McKeown. “It is just an excuse, all they have to do is get a long rake.

“The council must be getting £20,000 in rates from the people who live along here.”

The bank is located behind a bus stop, opposite Ballynahinch High School. Mr. McKeown said he believed the rubbish came from customers using the nearby Carlisle’s food store and failing to use litter bins.

He also wants the council’s cleansing staff to extend their area of coverage on the Moss Road a short distance, to incorporate the area leading to the playing fields.

“The litter pickers stop at the edge of Carlisle’s garage, we would need them sent up the road a further 200 yards,” he said.

“The rubbish ends up blowing along on the back of the houses here.”

A spokeswoman for Down Council said they had cleansing staff that were committed to cleaning the Ballynahinch area on a set schedule.

“While the Moss Road area of Ballynahinch is on this schedule, due to its location it does not have as high a cleansing frequency as the main Belfast Road arterial route,” she said.

“The Belfast Road and associated footpaths, within the 30mph limit, also receive regular cleaning.

“Unfortunately there is an area behind a bus shelter which has a very steep slope and dense foliage, making it difficult to cleanse within Health and Safety requirements. The council will continue to monitor the cleansing requirements for the area and will seek to provide an effective cleansing service.”