Domestic rubbish was strewn around the walkway at Lacken Wood

PEOPLE IN New Ross and the surrounding areas have expressed anger to the Echo over the fact that two well known local beauty spots have been targeted by illegal dumpers over the last number of weeks.

Large amounts of rubbish were dumped at the Ponds area of the Maudlins, in New Ross, and also at Lacken Wood, just a couple of miles outside the town, and the incidents have caused great concern and annoyance to the many people who regularly frequent both areas.

Popular with walkers and especially families with young children, the fact these two particular areas were targeted in such a manner has caused much anger in the local community.

The matter was also brought to the attention of Cllr. Michael Sheehan who has been vocal in his criticism of the proposed introduction of pay-by-weight recycling from July.

Cllr. Sheehan said that such a system could pave the way for an increase in illegal dumping and said that incidents like what occurred at the Ponds and in Lacken Wood could become more commonplace when pay-by-weight is introduced.

Cllr. John Fleming has also been critical of having the new system introduced and said it will present “yet another cost on struggling householders”.

Some members of the public who contacted the Echo about the issue said a ‘name-and-shame’ policy should be introduced and that the local authority should do everything it can to prosecute those responsible.

Illegal dumping is a criminal offence and anyone caught engaging in such behaviour could be liable to very heavy fines through the courts.

Among the items tipped out at the Ponds were large items of furniture while in Lacken Wood the walkway was covered with black sacks full of domestic rubbish.