250 tyres dumped at Belfast wildlife haven
Tuesday 6th February 2018
Over 250 tyres were dumped last week over the gate of Slievenacloy Nature Reserve in the Belfast Hills - an Area of Special Scientific Interest. Ulster Wildlife is appealing to the public to report any information to the Enforcement Officers at Lisburn & Castlereagh City Council.
Lisburn & Castlereagh City Council has removed the tyres and is planning to investigate where they have come from. It is thought the tyres could be from a garage or waste contractor.
Sadly, fly-tipping is not uncommon at the local wildlife haven, with everything from tyres, furniture to cars having been dumped over the years, creating a blot on the landscape and putting the charity’s limited resources under pressure.
Deborah McLaughlin, Nature Reserves Officer with Ulster Wildlife said, “Fly-tipping is a growing problem at Slievenacloy, and across the wider Belfast Hills, but this is the worst we’ve experienced yet.
“Slievenacloy is a beautiful and protected wildlife haven, where orchids, butterflies and birds can thrive and visitors can enjoy nature.
“We would urge businesses and individuals to correctly dispose of their unwanted waste either through certified waste contractors or at their local recycling centres to help us protect and care for special places like this, on their doorstep.”
Alderman Tommy Jeffers, Chair of the Environmental Service Committee at Lisburn & Castlereagh City Council said: “We condemn all illegal dumping of material and will continue to work with our partners to deter and detect this abhorrent crime.
“Lisburn & Castlereagh City Council is aware of a number of ‘hotspots’ within the area that are used for fly-tipping of waste materials and we have introduced a number of surveillance measures in these ‘at risk’ areas.
“Anyone who is identified committing an offence will be issued with a Fixed Penalty Notice of £80 or prosecuted under Article 3 of the Order which, on summary conviction in a magistrate’s court, carries a fine of up to £2,500.”
If you have any information, please contact Lisburn & Castlereagh City Council on 028 9244 7867 or email: env.health@lisburncastlereagh.gov.uk.
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Tagged with: Living Landscapes, Fly-tipping, Illegal dumping, Nature reserve, Tyres