Shocking widespread dumping in Laois Slieve Blooms - CCTV demanded 

Fly tipping on an industrial scale has occurred in the Slieve Blooms but Laois public representatives believe that the problem would be tackled if cameras could be used.

So claims Cllr James Kelly, Independent, who flagged the problem at Glendine with Laois County Council.

“Widespread dumping is going on again up there. It is shocking,” he said.

Cllr Kelly produced a picture of a recent extreme incident which he said must have been planned.

“It wasn’t just one person. This was a truck,” he told the Mountmellick Borris-in-Ossory Municipal District meeting.

He said efforts are being made to bring visitors to Laois.

“This is the scene they’ll see when they get to the JJ Fanning Pass,”

Cllr Kelly said a former public representative, the late Jerry Lodge, who officially opened the pass would be angry.

“He would be turning in his grave,” he said.

Cllr Kelly also claimed the boy racers are back again. He said Gardaí will be responding to them and the dumping.

“Gardaí are going to be very vigilant because it is an absolute disgrace,” he said

He was supported by other councillors.

Cllr John King, Fine Gael, said there had been a similar incident  in Errill in 2021 which he said cost Laois County Council a lot of money to clear up. He lamented the discontinuation of the use of cameras by councils due to data protection rules.

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He was also backed by Cllr Seamus McDonald, Fianna Fáil, who said it was ‘absolutely disgraceful’.

Cllr Ollie Clooney, Independent, called for cameras were the way to tackle dumping.

“We have to get through the red tape,”  he said.

He insisted that CCTV is of benefit.

“If you are abiding by the law you have nothing to fear from the cameras,” he said.

Cllr Clooney insisted that if cameras are located where dumping is happening, people would think twice.

Spring into action to help clean up Laois

He also urged households to sign up to bin collection work.