Politicians accuse council of being reluctant to prosecute litter louts

Politicians accuse council of being reluctant to prosecute litter louts

27 March 2013

DOWN Council officials are to be asked to explain why they have failed to prosecute people dumping litter at the Downpatrick and Co. Down Railway.

The issue is to be raised at the next meeting of the local authority’s Environment Committee by councillors Robert Burgess and Cadogan Enright.

The councillors, who are both volunteers with the railway, have revealed council officials were provided with photographs of people dumping litter at the Lower Market Street car park but took no action.

In addition, they say council officials were also notified that people who witnessed the dumping were willing to provide witness statements so the offenders could be prosecuted.

Councillor Enright said the reluctance to prosecute, the apparent belief that patrolling is a substitute for prosecutions and the suggestion that patrolling itself is no use as council staff wear high-visibility uniforms so those dumping will simply wait until they are out of sight “almost sounds like this council department is trying to do itself out of a job.”

He continued: “We know where and when litter is ped, we know several of the regular offenders and their cars. We also have photographs and witness statements.

“Council staff could go to the railway most evenings and make prosecutions, or follow up on existing witness statements. The solutions here are very obvious to myself and councillor Burgess and we will be expecting answers at the forthcoming Environment Committee meeting.”

Councillor Burgess described the excuses for not pursuing the litter issue at the local railway as “quite unacceptable.” He said when someone is prepared to write in with supporting materials like photographs and maps, they must be taken seriously.

“Considerable effort was expended by railway representatives to provide council officials with material to take action against a small group of repeat offenders responsible for depositing a large amount of litter in the car parking areas facing the railway,” he explained.

Councillor Burgess said the time has come to take action against those dropping litter at what is one of the district’s premier tourist attractions.