Councillor hits out at ‘appalling’ amount of rubbish on islands

Councillor hits out at ‘appalling’ amount of rubbish on islands

3 August 2016

LEVELS of rubbish being left by revellers at a number of picturesque islands in Strangford Lough have been described as “appalling” by a local politician.

Councillor Cadogan Enright said four islands at the internationally acclaimed waterway close to Killyleagh were recently strewn with debris from drinking parties.

He came across the rubbish at Dún Uí Neil, Salt Island, Inís t-Saggart and Green Island while taking part in an annual butterfly count and has warned those who engage in drinking parties at these islands that they face prosecution.

While surveying over 100 islands dotted around the lough, councillor Enright said he found the four closest to Killyleagh were strewn with litter from drinking parties, suggesting those responsible for the mess do not care about how they leave campsites.

“It is only these four islands were you can find multiple camp sites strewn with the debris of drinking parties and there was clear evidence that the perpetrators come from the Killyleagh area in every case,” he revealed. “I will be passing on information to litter wardens and the Department for Communities for action.

“These beautiful islands are a refuge for all forms of wildlife. These islands we can access for the enjoyment of camping or a day out need to be treated with respect and left for those coming afterwards in the same pristine state that we would expect to find it ourselves.”

Councillor Enright said it seems clear to him that one or more groups of people in the Killyleagh area have access to a powered boat and make a habit of thrashing the islands, including the Green Island bird sanctuary.

He continued: “This is the fifth year my son and I have had to clean up after these wasters during our butterfly count and this needs to stop. I will be making a point of pursuing these individuals for prosecution and they should be aware that I have seen prosecutions taken against other groups of litterers in the past and know well how to do it.

“I have to assume that it was one of these groups responsible for vandalising the Bothy on Salt Island with fire over sewerage drains and smashing the water storage system that they then used to pack with beer cans and other camping refuse.”

At Dún Uí Neil, Councillor Enright said there were three thrashed camp sites, with two on Green Island where no camping is permitted.

He added: “By the time my son and I got to Inís t-Sagairt, our canoe was full and that is a big island so I would appeal to passing canoeists to help finish the clean up.”