An eye-sore and an assault of people’s senses is how the cleanliness of Newry – or lack thereof – has been described by a group of councillors.
A Sinn Féin delegation met with senior council officials to push for action on Newry’s cleanliness.
The delegation included Dáire Hughes MP, Cllr. Valerie Harte, Cllr. Geraldine Kearns, Cllr. Cathal King and Cllr. Aidan Mathers.
Speaking after the meeting, Newry and Armagh MP, Dáire Hughes, said: “We’ve seen a marked decline in cleanliness across Newry and the surrounding areas. Residents are rightly annoyed at this state of affairs, especially when other parts of the district and other areas across the country are in a much better state.
“Newry, Mourne and Down District Council have a responsibility to address a wide range issues, including overflowing bins, dirty footpaths, dog fouling, fly-tipping and the maintenance of the canal.
“As long as these problems continue, our job of making Newry an attractive place to live, work, visit and invest in gets increasingly hard. People here pay their rates and deserve the highest possible level of public services.”
Cllr Mathers added: “I raised the serious issue of rubbish at the side of the main roads entering Newry. For many visitors this will be their first impression of our city and more must be done to keep them clean.
“I also asked the council to prioritise emptying on-street bins and cleaning footpaths. The number of overflowing bins is a disgrace. This is both an eyesore and an assault on people’s senses.”
Cllr. Valerie Harte said: “I asked the Council to prioritise work on the upkeep of Monks Hill Cemetery. So many of our residents have loved ones buried in Monks Hill and they should be able to visit graves in a clean and well maintained environment. Grass cutting and the clearing of rubbish are basic things that should be delivered on a regular basis.
“We also raised the issue of contractors leaving debris lying around after construction or road works. This has happened many times in recent months and the Council agreed to be more direct with contractors and the relevant Departments going forward.”
Cllr. Cathal King added: “Fly tipping is a scourge in rural and urban areas alike. We have asked that the council look as best practice in other areas and adopt initiatives to prevent fly tipping in our area, which has some outstanding natural beauty. I’m glad that the Council has agreed to work closely with Louth County Council to continue a joined-up approach to tackling fly tipping.
“The Sinn Féin delegation also encouraged Council to explore incentives to encourage more civic pride in our communities. It would be great if the Council could work with communities and support them in making Newry a better place to live.”
Cllr. Geraldine Kearns said: “Newry Canal should be a fantastic asset for our town, as well as being of significant historical importance. Unfortunately it is often poorly maintained and unpleasant to look at. I’m glad that Council appear to be taking this issue seriously and have committed to more regular cleaning of our historic waterway.
“I insisted that the Council place more of a focus on keeping our housing estates clean. Council have a responsibility to clear rubbish and ensure bins are regularly emptied. Our residents deserve to live in clean communities.”
Summing up the meeting, Dáire Hughes MP said: “This was a constructive meeting. We welcome the fact that Council has acknowledged these issues and is working to address them. Sinn Féin will be following up with officials regularly to monitor progress to ensure that people here can live and work in the cleanest possible environment.”
