Upgrade sought for local recycling areas
The New Inns' recycling area and several others in the Bailieborough-Cootehill Municipal District could be set for an upgrade following a recent appeal by local elected members.
Chair of the MD, and Fine Gael Councillor Val Smith said that the local authority's executive confirmed to him they will examine the New Inns' site and also the recycling centre at Shercock where similar issues have arisen.
“I'd spoke to the engineers before and I've spoken to them again and they've told me they will look at it, that it is a problem, and hopefully we can find a solution,” Cllr Smith told The Anglo-Celt.
His proposal for investment initially came on foot of a motion tabled before the May meeting of elected area members.
The New Inns' facility, located just off the N3 and adjacent to Lavey GAA pitch was, Cllr Smith said, was in need of urgent upgrade.
A particular grievance held by Cllr Smith was that the pull-in area for people seeking to recycle was gravelled. “There is a problem cleaning it,” he noted to the meeting, especially when waste gets mixed with the stone.
“When glass breaks and it mixes in with the gravel it can be dangerous,” he added of the site, which is also used for parking by commuters car-pooling or getting the bus.
While the motion centred on the New Inns bank, Cllr Smith didn't just draw the line there, and recommended the council explore upgrading other similar sites within the MD that might require attention.
Another such was the recycling centre in Shercock, which also sits on a gravel base.
Cllr Smith's request for both was for new CCTV, lighting, and also a concrete plinths to be installed to elevate the recycling bins from ground level.
His motion was seconded by party colleague Carmel Brady, who also recommended taking a look at the Cootehill recycling site. Without a base to these centres, she said they can be “very hard to keep clean.”
The motion was also supported by Aontú's Sarah O'Reilly and Fianna Fáil's Clifford Kelly, who both welcomed recent upgrades to recycling centres in Kingscourt and Bailieborough.