CULPRITS responsible for illegally dumping tyres at the Wallace Hill Road outside Killyleagh have been condemned by a local politician.
Rowallane councillor Terry Andrews said the issue of illegal dumping in the Newry, Mourne and Down Council area was “sadly nothing new” and urged anyone with information in relation to the latest incident to contact local authority officials or the PSNI.
In addition to the tyre dumping incidents at the Wallace Hill Road, there were others just a few weeks ago at the Scaddy and Greystown roads outside Killyleagh, with previous incidents reported on the outskirts of Saintfield and Ballynahinch.
Concerned residents contacted Cllr Andrews about the latest incident at the Wallace Hill Road who is concerned that such behaviour continues across the district.
He said anyone who can help identify the illegal dumpers must come forward to the authorities with information so that the culprits can be identified and prosecuted.
Warning that there is no excuse for this kind of behaviour, Cllr Andrews said the courts have a vital role to play to impose sentences which send out a strong signal that illegal dumping will not be tolerated.
“Illegal dumping is an issue which has been highlighted by a number of councillors across the Newry, Mourne and Down area and one that sadly shows no sign of reducing,” he continued.
Cllr Andrews said that illegal dumping and so-called fly-tipping is a “blight on the landscape” and he cannot understand the mentality of those who involve themselves in what amounts to criminal behaviour and a blatant disregard for the area.
The Rowallane politician said while the overwhelming number of the district’s residents use the facilities available to them to dispose of their waste others, for whatever reason, view rural areas as open air dumping grounds.
“We have civic amenity sites in Downpatrick, Ballynahinch and Castlewellan to enable people to get rid of their waste and, for a relatively small fee, Newry, Mourne and Down Council offers a home bulky refuse collection service. All people have to do is leave out their large household waste items and they will be taken away,” Cllr Andrews explained.
Calling for the countryside to be respected, the Rowallane councillor said illegal dumping was an “environmental crime” which must cease.
“It beggars belief that in the 21st century there are those who prefer to drive to secluded rural locations to get rid of their waste rather than taking it to a recycling centres. The mentality of such people is unfathomable,” he declared.
Cllr Andrews said waste should not be dumped along isolated country roads but disposed of properly.
“When you read reports about illegal dumping across the council area, it is clear that we have a hardcore of determined law breakers who thumb their nose at authority and do their own thing when it comes to getting rid of their waste,” he said.
“I would have thought that given the significant investment in recycling facilities and the availability of the bulky refuse collection service that illegal dumping and fly-tipping would be on the decrease. This is not the case as it was revealed recently that there has been a 75% increase in fly-tipping incidents across the council area, with 717 reported cases between 2018 and 2020.”
Cllr Andrews said the law breakers who engage in illegal dumping needed to “recognise the error of ways” or face potential prosecution and public naming and shaming.
He added: “In addition to the environmental cost of illegal dumping there is also a financial cost which is met by ratepayers to have the waste removed. While many people obey the law and dispose of their waste properly, there are a number who don’t, displaying a flagrant disregard for others and communities.
“This behaviour is unacceptable and must cease. There is simply no excuse for it.”