Dumping Continues While The Wait For Mobile CCTV Cameras Goes On

It's hoped mobile CCTV cameras will be brought in to stop illegal dumping around county Wexford.

A long drawn out process means the cameras have yet to be installed despite Wexford County Council saying in January they would be in place in a few weeks.

Six cameras will be set up overall with five installed at bring bank centres to encourage more people to dispose of their rubbish responsibly.

Fianna Fail councillor Barbara Anne Murphy says it's a start but a lot more is needed:

"Right now we only have six areas where we can bring forward these cameras. To get more we have to get permission for each and every one for its location and it has to be put on public display so people know what's happening.

"It seems to be that we're protecting the person who's breaking the law rather than protecting the law abiding."

Back in January, the areas selected for the installation of the cameras were Turret Rocks in Enniscorthy; 

The Tesco Bring Banks at Distillery Road, Wexford town;

Priory Lane, New Ross; 

The Tesco Bring Banks, in Gorey,

 The Tesco Bring Banks, Hewittsland, New Ross; and the Bring Banks, Old Railway Depot, Wellingtonbridge.

Councillor Murphy says they can't come quick enough.

"Those were the places that had the most reports of dumping with one to be chosen in each district while another was a hotspot to help us reach the six.

"We need more places and unfortunately we have to go through this procedure each time to add an extra camera which seems to be to be really silly."

Illegal dumpers are being warned they will be caught and prosecuted once new CCTV cameras are established next month.

The public consultation on the cameras was held late last year with red tape and legal concerns leading to a major delay of their rollout.

Councillor Murphy says she's not a fan of the current procedure which means information on the cameras is publicly available as it means the dumpers may just choose somewhere else.

"It seems to be we're protecting the people who are doing the dumping rather than our beautiful environment and those of us who live and enjoy the world where we live while these people absolutely destory it with dumping."

That report was funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme.