Time for ‘wasters’ found illegally dumping in Longford to be hit in pocket

As our photo shows, several items of domestic waste were left strewn across the ground outside a county council bring bank facility at Longford's Tesco Car Park and just yards from a number of homes backing onto St Mel's Road.

What's more, many of the items left behind were either plastic or empty soft drink cans, both of which the Tesco Car Park facility caters for.

Details surrounding the incident have come in for scathing criticism locally with Independent Cllr Gerry Warnock said the time had come to clamp down on those behind such activity once and for all.

The Longford town based local politician said it was “absolutely disgusting” to see what is one of the county town's most readily used recycling facilities being exploited in such indiscriminate fashion.

“It’s absolutely disgusting to see this in a civilised society,” he said.

“To make it worse all the waste material appears to be recyclable cans or bottles.

“People who engage in this type of behaviour are an absolute drain on the community and they mock the efforts of the council, the Tidy Towns and the vast majority of the community who choose to dispose of their waste in a responsible manner. These people want everything but want to pay for nothing.”

It's not the first time, concerns surrounding illegal dumping at the public bring bank site have surfaced.

Almost 12 months ago, the Leader detailed how several bags of domestic household waste were discovered at the exact same location, sparking an equally stern response from local politicians.

Fast forward a full a calendar year, public representatives typified by the likes of Cllr Warnock are leading calls for legislators and the judiciary to enact a no nonsense approach to those found responsible of engaging in illegal dumping.

“As we enter a new year, I sincerely hope that more of these perpetrators are exposed and that the courts do their job and throw the full force of the law at them,” he said.

“If you hit these wasters in the pockets it’ll soften their cough.”