The cost of keeping the streets clean around the Fermanagh and Omagh District Council area has been revealed as a shocking £2m per year.

From April 1, 2021 to March 31, 2022, FODC spent £2,040,489 on the provision of street cleaning services in the Fermanagh and Omagh District.

The costs have prompted one local councillor to hit out at those who are "indiscriminate and selfish in regard to their own personal waste" including dog owners.

An FODC spokesperson said: “Fermanagh and Omagh District Council spent £2,040,489 in 2021-22 on the provision of street cleansing services across the District; this expenditure includes the cost of staff, consumables and services associated with litter collection, removal of fly-tipping, dog fouling and town/village orderly."

The cost has risen as further figures from the FODC website show that in 2020/21 the cost of street cleansing services was approximately £1.9 million.

The Impartial Reporter queried the cost of littering and dog fouling for FODC following the announcement of an initiative to from the Council for an increase in enforcement patrols across the district

Last month it was announced that FODC have partnered with Waste Investigations Support and Enforcement (WISE) for a yearlong trial. WISE are a specialist supplier of enforcement services to Councils across the UK.

This partnership will visibly increase the number of Enforcement Officers patrolling the district, with WISE employees having powers, granted by Council, to issue an £80 Fixed Penalty Notice (FPN) to anyone dropping litter in the street or failing to pick up after their dog.

Reacting to the figures in regards to dog fouling and littering , Councillor Robert Irvine, UUP said: “It's a cost that's put on rate payers caused by a small proportion of the population who are indiscriminate and selfish in regard to their own personal waste, and the smaller number of dog walkers who will not actually collect their own dogs waste.”

He continued: “It’s a small number, but the problem is it costs an inordinate amount of money to actually clean up behind people.”

Speaking on the newly introduced WISE trial, Councillor Irvine said: “It’s unfortunate when you have to get to a situation in a society where we have to fine people who do not comply of their own freewill in regard to these regulations which are common sense and everybody should follow.”

He concluded: “Therefore, I have absolutely no sympathy with people who start to complain that they've been slapped with a fine. They shouldn't have committed the crime in the first place. If you don't commit the crime, you don't have to pay the fine.”

Speaking at the time of the announcement, The Chair of Fermanagh and Omagh District Council, Councillor Barry McElduff said:"The Council has invested considerable resources over many years to educate and raise awareness regarding the negative environmental impact of littering and dog fouling. There is now a real need to address the minority of people who still believe it is acceptable to drop rubbish or not tidy up after their dogs fouling our streets and open spaces.

"The substantial amounts of money being spent on street cleaning could be better invested in local communities."