Council checking sources of tonnes of waste dumped at Garlow Cross

by Paul Murphy

Large scale dumping of rubbish on byroads at Garlow Cross near the N3 is leading to protests by local residents who say that various sites in the area have been left “in an appalling state”.

The residents say that a visiting Travellers group created an encampment in two different periods near Soldiers Hill roundabout over the last few weeks, with more than 12 caravans there at any one time.

 

Many of the residents are in the Pride of Place movement and they contacted Cllr Claire O'Driscoll about the dumping who took the issue up with Meath County Council officials.

Local resident Joey Farrelly said that the Travellers had left large mounds of refuse behind them. The latest encampment ended when Gardai visited the area last Friday. Old kitchen units, fridge freezers, golf carts, household electrical equipment, green waste, boxes from sheds, slates, tiles were among the rubbish left behind.

Mr Farrelly said that he had inspected the site after the Travellers had left. “There was rubbish everywhere. It looked as if they had been clearing out old sheds or houses for people and brought the rubbish here. There were even tonne bags containing rubbish. There were also large amounts of cutting from hedges and gardens but we didn't mind that because it would rot away naturally.'

“Since the motorway was built all the side roads leading off it are prone to this kind of thing. It certainly doesn't help when you are in for the Pride of Place competition. To be fair to Cllr O'Driscoll she took the matter up with the council as soon as we contacted her,' he added.
He said that on another side road in the area where a man was building a house, he had had to put up barriers to prevent vehicles entering to allow for dumping.

A spokesperson for Meath County Council said that the dumping issue had been brought to their attention and they were acting on complaints and at time of going to press Council Environment team was on site to deal with the clean up and investigate the potential sources of the refuse.