Disgraceful dumping turns attractive Athlone lane into a wasteland
A quiet laneway which was a popular local amenity near Garrycastle has become a dumping ground, much to the dismay of residents in the area.
The lane, between the ESB facility in Garrycastle and the Old Rail Trail Greenway, at Ashgrove, was known locally as Blackberry Lane or Molly's Lane.
Following some shocking dumping incidents there in recent times Sinead Harte, whose father lives in Ashgrove, got in touch with this newspaper to voice her deep sadness at the current condition of the lane.
"This lane was such a wonderful amenity for my children, myself, and indeed the locals in the area," said Sinead.
"We would pick blackberries along the lane to make jam, stop and look at the horses and sheep in the fields, watch the bunny rabbits run across the lane - just such wonderful memories.
"The last real walk my mother took was down 'Molly's lane' before she passed. Molly, who used to live in the cottage on this lane, would chat to us each morning as we strolled along, while she made her way to collect her morning papers.
"She would have ice creams ready for the kids when we passed her house. Molly was so proud of her cottage and the lane where she lived."
Sinead called on the council to take action over the serious dumping that has been taking place there.
"The fact that panning permission is sought for 500 houses in this area doesn't mean this lane should be forgotten or ignored," she said in reference to the proposed Lissywollen housing development.
"This is still an important amenity, which has been turned into an illegal dumping ground.
"It is also a health hazard, from what I have seen, and teenagers are using it for anti-social behaviour."
At this month's meeting of the Athlone Moate Municipal District, Cllr Jamie Moran raised the matter for discussion, describing the dumping there as "absolutely disgraceful".
He asked if there was any possibility a gate could be installed to prevent vehicles from accessing the lane. This idea was supported by councillors Aengus O'Rourke and Frankie Keena.
Cllr O'Rourke said that last year he had put on a pair of gloves and sifted through some of the rubbish that was dumped along the lane.
"I found some addresses, predominantly from the Meath and Kildare area, so that demonstrates that the 'man with the van', whoever he is, is active and is using that laneway to dump his material," said Cllr O'Rourke.
"We do need to provide some sort of barrier to prevent this dead-of-night premeditated dumper who arrives in his van, wherever he's coming from, and dumps in a laneway in Athlone. It's not good enough."
However, District Engineer Pat Nally said it would not be possible to put up a gate or barrier to the laneway, as it's considered a public road.
"We cannot put a gate of any sort across a public road. It has to allow for vehicular access," said Mr Nally.
When he was asked if the councillors could try to change the status of the lane, from public to private, he replied: "We can discuss it, but that would mean the road would have to be formally abandoned. That's a process for the members (to consider) but it's a long process."
Director of Services Barry Kehoe confirmed that the local authority would carry out a clean-up of the laneway and said signage would also be erected there in an attempt to discourage any further dumping.
"I can tell you that signage on its own won't work, so we have a battle on our hands to manage that roadway," said Cllr O'Rourke.
"I know it shouldn't fall on us to do that, and it is a cost to the district, but we also can't let it remain as it is."
Cllr Moran agreed that erecting signage wouldn't solve the problem. "I don't think signs are going to work. Someone seeing a sign isn't going to stop them throwing a load of rubbish there," he concluded.