Published: Thursday, 8th October, 2009 9:00am

Council prosecuted for removing lorry with illegal waste

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Councillors have described a seizure notice that was served on Fermanagh District Council by the Northern Ireland Environment Agency for removing a trailer load of illegal waste last month as an "absolute disgrace" and "bureaucracy gone mad".

Chief Executive Rodney Connor reported that a Seizure Notice, under Schedule 5 (2) (a) of the Transfrontier Shipment of Waste Regulations 2007 had been served on the Council by NIEA in respect of the removal of a red curtain sided trailer at Drummee Landfill Site on September 14.

Last month residents in Rosslea were furious when NIEA, who have responsibility over illegal waste, failed to remove the 40 feet trailer from a local beauty spot and was removed 10 days later by Fermanagh District Council following requests from Councillors and residents.

The NIEA then served a seizure notice on the Council for removing the illegal waste from the South without a permit.

At Monday night's monthly meeting of Fermanagh District Council Councillors opened the meeting by discussing waste and the problem of cross-border illegal dumping in Fermanagh.

Chairman of Fermanagh District Council, Councillor Bertie Kerr said it was an "absolute disgrace" that the agency served the notice instead of offering support to the Council in tackling the problem of illegal dumping, which costs the Council thousands of pounds each year.

He also praised the hard work of the Council's Technical Services team and said he felt proud that it provided such an excellent service despite the ongoing problem.

Sinn Fein Councillor Thomas O'Reilly also paid tribute to the work of the Council and described its action as "bureaucracy gone mad" and appealed for a one-island agency to be set up in order to tackle the problem head on.

SDLP Councillor Frank Britton agreed with Councillor O'Reilly and said the Council needs to work closely with other Councils in Monaghan, Cavan and Leitrim to deal with this problem but Chief Executive Rodney Connor said the Council already works closely with neighbouring councils and reminded him that the aforementioned Council's don't have control over the collection of waste as it's done by the private sector.

Earlier in the discussion, UUP Councillor Harold Andrews said he spotted a Southern registered car carrying a number of black bags to a refuse site in Rosslea and discovered that other bags have been dumped on the road around Rosslea and said "it is a serious problem."

Fermanagh District Council has since sought legal advice to protect itself from any further action from NIEA and a letter has been written to the Environment Minister about the matter stating that the Council was doing everything in its power to deal with the problem which should have been dealt with NIEA in the first place.