PICTURES: 'Serious' huge pile of rubbish set on fire next to Laois homes

A Laois councillor is demanding that the perpetrators of dumping that led to a dangerous fire be caught and fined.

A shocking amount of household waste is being regularly dumped in a laneway beside Birchgrove housing estate in Knockmay, Portlaoise, according to Cllr Caroline Dwane Stanley.

Even worse, it was set on fire near Halloween, with flames and sparks shooting high into the sky, beside gardens with timber fences.

"It was very near wooden fences at the back of properties. If it had been windy on the night in question, the flames would have carried and they would have been in serious bother. I've no doubt it would have been a serious incident. I think it was the week before Halloween," Cllr Dwane Stanley said.

She said that the rubbish dumping is not being dealt with "at the root of the problem".

"Rubbish is being dumped at the back of Birchgrove estate. Even a trampoline was dumped," she said.

She tabled a motion to the November meeting of Portlaoise Municipal District and asks Laois County Council's environment staff to "take measures to address the illegal dumping on the laneway adjacent to Birchgrove estate and take enforcement action against any perpetrators identified".

"I spoke to the litter warden and thank you for their great work they did to clear it out. But this is not dealing with the root of the problem, it's only dealing with the symptoms. It's extremely unfair on residents in Birchgrove and on landowners as well.

"There is legislation that the council can use in enforcements. To ensure that people have legal ways of disposing rubbish. If they don't start using that tool, to knocks on door, we will continue having to clean up rubbish after rubbish.

"I'm calling on the council to start carrying out inspections, with the environment and housing sections working together. We do need to get to the root of the problem," Cllr Dwane Stanley said. 

Cllr Tommy Mulligan seconded her motion.

"Unfortunately illegal dumping is a scourge in many parts of the town. It's difficult to identify those who perpetrate this. We need to have more severe penalties," he said.

Cllr Barry Walsh supports the motion also.

"I don't think fines are severe enough. It should be nearly name and shame at this point. People think they can get away with it if the fine is only €80 or whatever," he said.

Rubbish dumped in the laneway beside Birchgrove estate in Portlaoise.

In response to the motion, the environment section said that a clean-up was arranged with a contractor.

"Signage will be erected at this location. Once the clean-up has been completed, this site will be monitored by the litter warden and enforcement action taken, where evidence has been located," Laois County Council said.

Leaving or throwing litter in a public place or in any place that is visible from a public place is an offence which can be subject to an on the spot fine of €150 or a fine of up to €4,000 where court convictions are secured. 

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A person convicted of a litter offence may also be required to pay the local authority’s costs and expenses in investigating the offence and bringing the prosecution to court, including solicitor fees. The legislation governing litter is the Litter Pollution Act 1997