Only six fines for litter on Belgard Road during 2015
By Brendan Grehan
SIX LITTER fines were issued by South Dublin County Council for unauthorised signage on the Belgard Road in 2015 and one fine has been issued so far in 2016, reports Brendan Grehan.
The figures were released by SDCC in a response to a question tabled by Councillor Charlie O’Connor at last month’s Tallaght Area Committee meeting of the council.
Cllr O’Connor asked the “Chief Executive to detail the last occasion when an inspection of Belgard Road was made to identify and remove illegal and unwanted signs and posters, and to confirm the number of such items removed on the last occasion and in reporting will he state when the next planned inspection is to be undertaken, and will he also confirm the manner in which representations should be made if local residents wish to highlight particular locations which require attention?”
The council replied stating that Section 19(1) of the Litter Pollution Act 1997, as amended (the Act), regulates/prohibits placing of articles and advertisements on certain structures. It is important to note that, in accordance with the provisions of Section 19 of the Act, signage is not illegal if placed on private property with the consent of the property owner.
They added: “All complaints of unauthorised signage are investigated, in the first instance, by the Litter Warden Service. Complaints can be made through the following channel: www.fixyourstreet.ie, submit an enquiry via Customer Care System or membersnet system, email info@sdublincoco.ie or contact the Litter Warden service directly at 4149220.
In 2015, the Council received eight complaints of unauthorised signage on the Belgard Road, resulting in the issuing of six litter fines.
“To date in 2016, the Council have received two complaints, resulting in the issuing of one litter fine.
The Council’s Public Realm Section removes illegal posters and signage on receipt of requests to do so from the Litter Warden Service. Unfortunately no record has been kept with regard to the numbers of illegal signs removed from the Belgard Road area in recent times”.
Cllr O’Connor told The Echo that he is pursuing the issue of unauthorised signage with the council.
He said: “They didn’t really answer the question. My question comes from inquiries I have received from constituents about the problem. We don’t want these signs and posters all over the place.”
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