The low levels of fines for littering and dog mess amid a two and a half year investigation into “the worst street in Ireland” for pet fouling has been criticised.
Newry, Mourne and Down District Council’s (NMDDC) environment committee was presented with an update this week on its enforcement improvement plan action sheet.
It shows an examination of the footpath leading to WIN Industrial Estate in Newry is still “in progress” despite concerns being raised in June 2022.
Frustrated Alliance councillor, Cadogan Enright, said: “I am submitting a league table for management to validate the figures to see if the media are not making it up or if it is true, before circulating them to the rest of the members.”
The Local Democracy Reporting Service contacted the elected member who referred to the statistics (2022/23) released by ‘Keep NI Beautiful’ in its Cleaner Neighbourhoods report and published in national media.
The figures show councils charging various amounts, with the most and least fines for littering and dog fouling.
Mid and East Antrim tops the table with over 4,200 fines with a potential revenue of £78k compared to NMDDC with just under 120 fines and a potential revenue of just under £5k.
NMDDC was previously tasked by former Sinn Fein councillor, Charlie Casey in 2022, to take action on dog fouling in Newry saying, “if you go down to the street by the Win Industrial Estate [Canal Quay], at times it must be the worst street in Ireland”.
Yet almost 18 months later the inspection process remains on the council’s environment action sheet as fines for dog fouling alone in NMDDC totalled only 29 on the Cleaner Neighbourhoods report.
Cllr Enright added: “If councils are able to get over 4,000 fines per year it would mean that the fines would pay for our staff. And I would like to make a proposal to the strategic finance working committee to actually fund more staff or whatever these councils are doing.
“Because if the figures of other councils are true, they are so far away from ours, they must be doing something different and better.”
The proposal was seconded in chambers with a report expected at the next committee meeting.
