1996/99
For up to date news visit the Connaught Telegraph website.
TACKLING LITTER LOUTS, AT LAST
15 October 1997
Westport Urban Council are cracking down on litter louts.
The authority's two traffic wardens have been empowered to issue on-the-spot fines to those found littering the streets of the town.
This is the first positive move we have seen in the county to tackle this growing problem. We will be delighted when the first offenders are hauled before the local court and fined for their inconsiderate and unsocial behaviour.
The wardens have been instructed to concentrate on litter problems over the coming months, probably because there will not be too many demands on their traffic duties, now that the peak holiday season is over.
But their work is important. And it is important that the word goes out that people discarding litter will be prosecuted.
There is no need now for people to throw papers on the streets. There are adequate litter bins in place in all our towns and villages to cater for such rubbish.
And where there are not facilities to take litter, people should bring their litter home and dispose of it there.
We hope the other local authorities in Mayo follow the example of Westport and go all out to outlaw this disgusting practise.
Criticism in the this year's Tidy Town's report has spurred the Westport council and the town manager Padraig Hughes into taking positive action to clean up the town.
We wish your campaign well and we await early court prosecutions to prove that you are treating this as a serious social problem.
