Drumaness dumping sparks concern

Drumaness dumping sparks concern

2 May 2012 - by David Telford

RESIDENTS in Drumaness have expressed concern about people using an area at the rear of their homes as a dumping ground.

Plastic bags filled with waste, an old mattress, a suite of furniture and bottles have been dumped in recent weeks at a laneway at the rear of homes at the Crawfordstown Road.

Residents are concerned that the waste has not been removed and could attract vermin to the area. They are also hoping attempts by their landlord to trace the owners of the strip of land will be successful and that in addition to removing the rubbish, steps will be taken to provide lighting at the laneway and resurface it.

Mr. Mark Ferris who owns a number of homes at the Crawfordstown Road which have been leased to tenants, said there’s increasing concern about rotting furniture and bags of waste.

“The area is a disgrace and I would suggest that people didn’t drive miles to get rid of their waste at the Crawfordstown Road. People who left the waste at this part of the village clearly have a lot of local knowledge,” he said.

Mr. Ferris, who plans to raise the dumping issue with Down Council’s environmental health department, said residents should not have to put up with such conditions.

“The presence of waste at the rear of people’s homes is a disgrace and outrageous. There has been dumping at this area for years and residents have had enough.

“Local people believe there is a link between the rubbish being dumped and Down Council’s decision to end its free collection service for bulky waste. A new civic amenity site has opened a few miles away in Ballynahinch, but people are stopping in Drumaness to get rid of their waste. Such behaviour simply beggars belief.”

Mr. Ferris said it was thought the construction firm which built the houses at the Crawfordstown Road also owned the laneway at the rear, but explained this isn’t the case.

He added: “Leaving waste is totally unacceptable and we hope the owner of the laneway can be traced in an effort to address residents’ concerns.”

Crawfordstown Road resident Marty Rogan said people have to take their wheelie bins from the rear of their homes to their front doors on collection day.

“The laneway is uneven and in the winter is littered with pot holes filled with water. While the waste being dumped in the area is a major problem, residents would like to see the laneway paved or resurfaced in some way. New lighting is also required,” he said.

Drumaness resident Pat Ward said Crawfordstown Road residents have reported young people gathering at the rear of their homes under the cover of darkness to engage in illegal drinking.

He added: “All the issues highlighted by residents need to be addressed. The laneway needs to be cleared as a matter of urgency and steps taken to upgrade it.”