Residents urged to report dumpers as clean-up begins

A COMMUNITY hit by severe illegal dumping was encouraged last night to report those responsible to the authorities.

Contractors working for Cork City Council moved into the Killala Gardens estate on the city’s Northside yesterday to begin a massive 20,000 clean-up operation.

They will have to knock a high wall at the end of a cul-de-sac behind which hundreds of bags of rubbish, trolleys, kitchen appliances and old trolleys have been dumped in recent months.

Plans are also being discussed to convert the waste ground into a turnabout area for cars.

Mothers in the area who were worried about the health risks posed by the pile of rubbish staged a protest last week calling on the council to clean up the area.

But work was already underway to employ the contractor.

Local Cllr Tony Fitzgerald, who is involved with the Knocknaheeny Environmental Forum, and who had been working behind the scenes to address the issue, urged residents to report illegal dumping.

“The council has a dedicated freephone hotline — 1800 222 226 — for people to report illegal dumping,” said Mr Fitzgerald.

“I would encourage everyone, particularly the people of Knocknaheeny, to report illegal dumping.

“The money spent on this clean-up would have been better spent providing facilities for young people in the area.”

He also urged council to be more proactive about letting people know they are entitled to waivers for bin tags.

Meanwhile, a major community clean-up is planned in Knocknaheeny next Wednesday as part of the eight-week Knocknaheeny Summer Justice Project. Teams of children will scour the area with rubbish bags and gloves supplied by the council to pick up litter. Each child who takes part will get a voucher for Leisureworld.