Refuse service fails to reach remote areas

CONTRARY to the attitude of Cork County Council and ministers in Dublin, west Cork does not end in Clonakilty.

Rural west Cork is mountainous and extremely hilly with many homes scattered in remote areas, in many cases up narrow and hilly roads or pathways.

The county council only services areas that are accessible and easy to pick up from, ie, main roads, which leaves the majority of residents without refuse pick-up.

Recently a private service went out of business for reasons unknown.

On contacting the local county council refuse supervisor, I was informed that I had two options.

1. Take a bin to the main road (about one mile down a steep road), or

2. Transport the refuse by car to Castletownbere.

This is difficult when you are retired and unable to drive at the moment.

The county council stopped the private service in the area, but they can’t come up with a reasonable solution. Now our area has no pick-up service at all.

Is it the revenue the county council will miss, or are the unions restricting the drivers from negotiating narrow roads.

By the way, our road is serviced by multi-wheeled vehicles, delivery vans, oil/fuel suppliers, concrete trucks, and other building material suppliers.

Why not county council refuse vehicles? If additional vehicles are required, I’m sure they have the funds to supply them.

Would it therefore not make sense for the disposal of refuse to be available to all residents in all areas at a reasonable cost to all.

Remember, there is a nationwide promotion to recycle and to dispose of household waste correctly — yet it is made particularly difficult, if not impossible, as well as being expensive. Where are the incentives for the public to correctly dispose of refuse?

I would appreciate any information or contact from providers who might assist the community once again with a regular refuse pick-up service.

Brian Boyd

Rossnasonsogue

Glengarriff

Co Cork