Kildare ‘losing the pollution battle’

KILDARE’S environment has deteriorated in the last two years. A new report by Kildare County Council shows the amount of moderately polluted river channels has almost trebled, from 10% to 28%. But the number of seriously polluted rivers has fallen from a high of 16% in 2004 to 4% last year.
In what cllr John McGinley described as “disturbing reading”, there has been a reduction in full-time litter wardens from six to two. The number of prosecution cases taken for non-payment of on-the-spot fines has also dropped by almost a half in two years.
Cllr Paul Kelly added that the council “must be losing the (pollution) battle when we see percentages like these”.
In the council’s defence, county manager Michael Malone said: “Society must work with us both with litter and the courts. If people have witnessed others carrying out illegal dumping or littering, then they should be willing to come forward.”

Joanne O'Connor
© Kildare Nationalist