Thanks to Mr Con Mc Laughlin of Donegal Co Council Water and Environment Services who has responded to the posting about Rossnowlagh litter in the previous posting below. His response has been placed in the comments section where anyone interested in the topic can follow up on it. Meanwhile, the council has done an extra clean up and left Rossnowlagh looking pretty again.
Mr McLaughlin objects to this paragraph which he reads as urging people to burn picnic tables:
"The boardwalk project below cost €250,000. It's a good source of free kindling for bonfires. There are still some picnic tables left to burn. Ballyshannon fire brigade was called Sunday a week ago to extinguish the last conflagration. "
Rossnowlagh people reading the paragraph in context would understand that it is ironic. However in view of the possibility of misunderstanding by people not fully familiar with the area and its problems, the paragraph has been amended to
"The boardwalk project below cost the taxpayer €250,000. At present it is being broken up and used as kindling by illegal campers for lighting bonfires. They have, over the years, burned and vandalised several picnic tables in spite of the Council's efforts to use indestructible materials. Ballyshannon fire brigade was called Sunday a week ago to extinguish the last conflagration."
This, hopefully, will clarify the matter.
I felt you where bang on to highlight the problem of litter and vandalism. Pointing out the lack of bins is a small step, how about adequate toilet facilities instead of people squatting and squirting on the dune system sometimes in full view of all. How much would it cost to have some servicable toilets and a few outdoor cold showers like most busy tourist beaches in europe and the rest of the world. A note on the picnic benches. They are made out of a highly flamable petrol based plastic. When Joe soap lights his dispossable BBQ nonchalantly on them (always gonna happen) it starts to melt then busts into flames, it is ignorance and stupidity of both BBQ joe and the council! Put metal benches in or wooden benches with raised metal racks for BBQs as they have in a lot of other places. Better still be bold, and build purpose built bbqs where you just have to bring your own charcoal as they have in eurpope and OZ. kellz
ReplyDeleteGood points. Ireland lags a long way behind in provision for beach tourism.
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