Meeting With Local Councillors - April

We thought that, what with the local elections coming up in June, we might invite the local councillors, and local council candidates to a public meeting at the end of April.

We're trying to gauge interest, so please let us know if you're interested in coming along. We're proposing the night of Tuesday April 21st for the meeting, in the Donore Avenue Community Centre.

The discussion is open, but some topics we might raise might be:-

• Local efforts to combat dumping
• Any issues with Dublin City Council
• Local planning issues
• The new Liberties Area Plan & the new Dublin City Development Plan

Please email with any other suggestions - to corkstreetbuildings@gmail.com
Or leave a comment here on the blog!

Hope to see you there!

Cork Street Buildings in the Evening Herald

Residents angry as council blame them for litter

DISPUTE: Locals are problem not us, say chiefs

By Cormac Murphy
Wednesday January 21 2009

A DUBLIN councillor has come to the defence of residents in one of the city's most rubbish-strewn areas -- after the council blamed them for the litter.

Dublin City Council admitted the area -- Eugene Street, Maxwell Street and Darley Terrace in the south inner city -- suffers with huge litter problems.

But, in a move which has angered local representatives, it attempted to blame residents for the problem.

However, Cllr Criona Ni Dhalaigh, who raised the issue with city chiefs, disputed this claim and criticised the council for taking the "easy way out".

"It's not all the residents. Some of it is because there is such a transient population there, but most of it is people coming in and dumping," Cllr Ni Dhalaigh told the Herald.

"That is an easy way out of it -- blaming the residents."

A spokesperson for the council claimed: "The area goes completely against national trends in that the vast bulk of the litter is created by the residents themselves through poor presentation of domestic waste."

Cllr Ni Dhalaigh's (SF) comments came after she tabled a question calling on the local authority to declare the district a "litter black spot".

In response, the council outlined the actions it has taken.

Blitz

It "organised a high visibility 'blitz' of the area during August [last year] comprised of the litter prevention officer, four litter wardens and two to three gardai," the report stated.

"This was carried out over three days in five-hour shifts, starting at 10am and ending at 9pm. The staff on duty engaged freely with residents, explaining why refuse should not be put on the street on a daily basis," the report added.

Other steps taken included "covert surveillance from an anonymous vehicle for a total of seven hours, spread out over a three week period" and random patrols by litter wardens.

It stated that litter black spots are determined by surveys carried out under the National Litter Pollution Monitoring System, but that the zone in question did not fit the profile.

The council added: "The level of littering on these streets is disproportional to the size and population of the area. The city council can only employ measures that are reasonable and feasible in the context of available resources.

Cllr Ni Dhalaigh said one of the major issues was absentee landlords "not replying to queries about residents who are untidy".

She said the streets are made up of tiny cottages, some of which are in a "terrible state".

comurphy@herald.ie

- Cormac Murphy

http://www.herald.ie/national-news/city-news/residents-angry...

Questions Asked of the City Council

Cllr Criona Ni Dhalaigh tabled two questions on behalf of residents at December's South Area Committee Meeting - here are the questions and DCC's responses:-

QUESTION:
"To ask the Area Manager in the new litter plan what is the criteria to have an area declared a litter blackspot and could she please consider the following area as a litter blackspot. The residents and I have made numerous representations to the council to take action on the illegal dumping in this area but the problem continues. Could she please also ensure that this area
is not left without a bin collection over the Christmas period as has happened in the past. Details: Darley's Terrace, Cameron Street, Eugene St, Maxwell Street,Fingal Street which are all of Cork Street/Donore Avenue"

MANAGER'S REPLY:
"The location of Litter Black Spots is determined by surveys carried out under the National Litter Pollution Monitoring System. The main Causative Factors identified as contributors to creation of Litter Black Spots are as follows: Pedestrians, Motorists, Retail Outlets, Gathering Points, Fast Food Outlets, Schools, Bus Stops. Refuse collection is also on the list but with a contribution level of only 0.1% nationally. The Cork St. Buildings area does not display any of the usual causative factors in that this is a very quiet set of purely residential streets with low footfall and little or no levels of vehicular traffic. The Cork St. Buildings area goes completely against national trends in that the vast bulk of the litter is created by the residents themselves, through poor presentation of domestic waste.

Whilst no survey has been carried out at this location, there is adequate local knowledge to establish that there is a significant litter problem in this area, which requires attention. For many years domestic waste was collected from these streets on a daily basis, which exacerbated the litter problem. In response to this problem the City Council has:
1. Organised a high visibility 'blitz' of the area during August of this year comprised of the Litter Prevention Officer, 4 Litter Wardens and 2-3 Gardaí.
This was carried out over 3 days in five-hour shifts, starting at 10am and ending at 9pm. The staff on duty engaged freely with residents explaining why refuse should not be put on the street on a daily basis,
2. Waiver Application Forms were distributed to those that might qualify and advice given on how to complete same,
3. A clear statement of refuse collection arrangements for the area was distributed,
4. Covert surveillance from an anonymous vehicle for a total of 7 hours spread out over a three-week period,
5. In order to enhance the area and encourage residents to take pride in their place, a number of flower tubs were placed on all the streets and a subsidised sale of window boxes and plants organised,
6. Guaranteed collection of all untagged waste on a once weekly basis for detailed search by a Litter Warden in the local Depot,
7. Visits to individual householders concerning presentation of waste following tip-offs by eyewitnesses,
8. Encouraged the residents to set up a revitalised committee to represent the area and facilitate communication with all those living on the streets,
9. Regular random patrols by Litter Wardens.
The level of littering on these streets is disproportional to the size and population of the area. The City Council can only employ measures that are reasonable and feasible in the context of available resources. The City Council has not refused any reasonable request from the residents representing this area.
Refuse collection for this area takes place every Thursday. [the reply went on to list the Christmas waste collection arrangements.]"

QUESTION:
"To ask the Area Manager to permit the use of the covert anti-dumping camera (which has secured 12 prosecutions for the council) to assist with the serious illegal dumping at (details supplied). The residents are at the end of their tether with the illegal dumping taking place here. Could she also ensure that an information leaflet on waiver entitlements be issued in this area. Details: Darley's Terrace, Cameron Street, Eugene St, Maxwell Street, Fingal Street which are all of Cork Street/Donore Avenue"

ANSWER:
"CCTV cameras are used to capture offences against the Litter Pollution Acts at locations where vehicles are used in the commission of an offence. This office has discussed the issue of placing CCTV cameras in the Cork St. Buildings area with our Security Company. The litter problem at this location is largely caused by a significant number of residents who insist on dumping household waste on the street on a daily basis. As vehicles are not used in the commissioning of the vast bulk of offences on these streets, CCTV systems would be of limited use and would constitute a poor use of limited resources. The Security Company also pointed out that as the only available mounting points are relatively close to ground level, cameras could be subject to anti-social activity and the City Council liable for the cost of replacing expensive equipment.
Residents have already been distributed with waiver forms in recent months and advised on how to apply. Approximately 12 applications were received subsequently from this area."

Local Councillors

As you may be aware, local elections take place in 2009. The council has a big role to play in our lives, from collecting rubbish to providing activities for the kids; so it's well worth keeping in touch with our representatives.

We're members of Dublin South Central, and our ward is South West Inner City. All current councillors are visible here.

The councillors for our ward at present are:
John Gallagher - Labour
Críona Ní Dhalaigh - Sinn Fein
Clare Byrne - Fine Gael

All three of these will be running for office again next year. In addition, the following candidates will also be running:
Martin Hogan - Green Party
Catherine Ardagh - Fianna Fail

We'll continue to update you on political developments in the area.