Archived press release

Residents rejoice as dodgy dump ceases.

23 October 2003

Friends of the Earth today welcomed the news that the operator of a dodgy dump in Garvagh, Co. Derry, is to finally have his licence revoked after seven years of illegal dumping. The Craigmore Road landfill site was licensed to take builders rubble and plastic only but clinical waste, sewage and animal carcasses have been dumped in flagrant breach of the licence. Locals report seeing waste carriers from the Republic of Ireland using the site on several occasions.

The news has also been welcomed by residents, who have been fighting to close the landfill site for the last seven years. Commenting, one local mother, said:

"This is good news. We've had to put up with flies in our food, an awful stench and lorries thundering up and down the road at all hours of the day and night for far too long. My kids' health has suffered and it can only be because of this dump. But I wonder, if we hadn't complained so much would the authorities have continued to let us suffer?"

The owner, Mr Malachy Higgins, originally had his licence revoked in March this year and was ordered to clean up the site but he appealed the decision. An appeal hearing was held in July and despite assurances that the site was being cleaned up, Mr Higgins continued to accept waste in direct contravention of the licence. Friends of the Earth has learned that the appeal has been dismissed.

John Woods, Director of Friends of the Earth (Northern Ireland) said:

"We are delighted that the licence for this site has been revoked. But seven years of official neglect cannot be so easily righted. Friends of the Earth is demanding that EHS now prosecute the site operator and require him to remove the more than 100,000 tonnes of illegally dumped material at his own expense".

This case is just the tip of the iceberg. Northern Ireland is littered with illegal landfill sites - Friends of the Earth has been in touch with communities in Antrim, Dunmurry, Cookstown, Newry, Tandragee and Omagh with similar stories to tell.

John Woods continued:

"For too long cowboy operators have been allowed to despoil our environment at huge profit to themselves. It is time for EHS to do what it exists to do - simply to enforce the law".

Friends of the Earth Northern Ireland
7 Donegall Street Place
BELFAST
BT1 2FN
Tel: 028 9023 3488
Fax: 028 9024 7556
Email: [email protected]

Published by Friends of the Earth Trust