Trampoline set on fire in Portlaoise

A TRAMPOLINE was among the items dumped and set ablaze in a laneway near a Portlaoise housing estate.

Flames came very close to some fences and there could have been a serious incident had winds been strong, according to a local councillor.

Cllr Caroline Dwane Stanley highlighted the alarming situation at a council meeting today, as she asked for illegal dumping in the laneway adjacent to the Birchgrove estate in Knockmay to be tackled.

“A very serious issue arose there a couple of weeks ago, when a lot of rubbish dumped at the back of the estate was set alight. There was even a trampoline dumped and set on fire,” she told the November meeting of Portlaoise municipal district.

She added: “The fire was very near some of the fences. If it had been windy at all and flames were carried across, the residents would have been in serious bother. I have no doubt that there would have been a serious incident.” 

Cllr Dwane Stanley said that, while the rubbish and debris was cleared following the fire, which happened shortly before or around Halloween, the council was dealing only with the symptoms of illegal dumping, not the root cause.

She urged Laois Co Council’s environment section to take measures to address illegal dumping on the laneway and to “take enforcement actions against any perpetrators identified”.

While she thanked litter wardens for their great work, she repeated a request that the council ask residents in all areas to produce proof of how they disposed of household waste.

She said: “If we don’t start knocking on people’s doors and asking them to produce proof of how they dispose of rubbish, we will keep having to deal with this. One pile of rubbish will just be replaced by another pile of rubbish and it’s very unfair on the landowner.” 

Cllr Tommy Mulligan described illegal dumping as “a scourge” in many parts of the town for years and said that severe penalties were needed.

Cllr Barry Walsh agreed and said: “I don’t think the fines are enough and it’s nearly time to name and shame.” 

In a written reply to Cllr Dwane Stanley’s proposal, the council’s environment section confirmed that a clean-up of the Birchgrove site was arranged with the contractor and warning signage would be erected.

The response added: ‘Once the clean-up has been completed, this site will be monitored by the litter warden and enforcement action taken, where evidence has been located.’