People flabbergasted at level of illegal dumping
By Aideen O'Flaherty
A COUNCILLOR is calling on South Dublin County Council to erect CCTV along Stocking Avenue in Rathfarnham to identify people who are illegally dumping in the area, an issue which the councillor said has escalated “at a rapid rate”.
Fianna Fáil councillor Emma Murphy told The Echo that there have been issues with illegal dumping in two particular sections of Stocking Avenue, at the junction with Stocking Lane and adjacent to the halting site, for several years but it has worsened in recent months.
Drone footage taken by the council in March
Cllr Murphy raised the issue at a recent meeting of the Rathfarnham/Templeogue-Terenure Area Committee, where she tabled a motion calling on the council to erect CCTV on Stocking Avenue as “the area is a significant blackspot for illegal dumping and the problem continues to escalate at a rapid rate.”
Cllr Murphy told The Echo: “I was down with some residents recently, and people living in White Pines are flabbergasted by the level of illegal dumping.
“The lanes leading into the Dublin Mountains are being destroyed by it. At least twice a week I have residents calling me about black bags being dumped.
“They call me, then I call the council, then the council calls a contractor to take it away. It’s costing the council a lot of money.”
In response to Cllr Murphy’s motion, the local authority stated that litter wardens regularly patrol Stocking Avenue, and that “all incidents of illegal dumping are searched for evidence of polluter details. Appropriate enforcement action is taken where the information of the polluter is identified.”
The council added that the matter is then referred to the public realm section for removal of the waste.
“The council acknowledges that the general area in the vicinity of Stocking Avenue is a known litter black spot,” stated SDCC, “and the area to the rear of Stocking Hill which is maintained by the Council’s Housing Department is currently being cleansed by their contractor.”
In 2018, a total of 29 complaints reporting illegal dumping in Stocking Avenue were received resulting in no fines being issued, while, to date, in 2019, 11 complaints have been received by the council.
The council added that there has been an increased targeted focus on known litter generator areas, and a raised visibility of their Warden Service through branded vehicles, and a number of structured routes have been identified for continuous patrol, as well as ad hoc patrols and investigations as required.
Cllr Murphy said: “Something has to be done about this, and the only way I can see something being done is if they put up CCTV, as it might act as a deterrent and it could identify the people who are doing it.”
The council said that they will determine if Stocking Avenue would be a suitable location for CCTV.
