Illegal dumpers are upsetting residents

Illegal dumpers are upsetting residents

26 July 2017

RESIDENTS of a Downpatrick street are appealing for illegal dumpers to stay away.

Residents living near the Hunters Mill development in Downpatrick have been complaining for several weeks that dumping is going on at the rear of the properties.

The Hunters Mill houses are empty and will be demolished in the autumn after problems were identified with the way they had been built.

But illegal dumpers are taking advantage of the empty houses to dump large amounts of rubbish in the area.

Peter Smyth, chairman of Stream Street Residents Association, said the most upsetting thing about the dumping is it appears to be coming from local residents.

“This seems to be coming from people with access to cars who could make the three minute journey to the civic centre up beside the RGU club,” said Mr Smyth.

“After years of work the residents association have finally managed to get the last of the derelict houses in Hunter’s Mill bought out by the builder’s insurance company, and we are working to have them demolished by the autumn and the area cleared.

“This is a hugely important project for local people, many of whom have had trouble selling their houses on account of this dereliction.  We don’t want to make the problem worse by becoming a dumping-ground. I am calling on local people to respect their own community”

Councillor Cadogan Enright said if someone does not have access to a car then a member of the residents association committee would be glad to help and organise something to them get up to the Civic Centre. 

“We have a very active and vibrant community around here and help is always at hand with many local voluntary projects being lead by the residents association,” he said.