Litter warden urged to increase patrols at Ringaskiddy beaches following concerns

Cork County Council’s litter warden has been urged to increase patrols at beaches in Ringaskiddy following concerns about significant levels of rubbish being left at Gobby and Luck beaches.

While the two amenities are usually relatively quiet, they have seen increased traffic in recent weeks, and last week local residents contacted authorities after the beaches were heavily littered with empty bottles, cans, and food packaging over the weekend.

Local resident, Jamie O’Toole said that while there has been a great atmosphere in the town in recent weeks, and in particular over the Bank Holiday weekend, a significant amount of litter had been left behind by visitors including empty drink cans and nappies.

“The majority of people took their rubbish home, but other people left stuff at the entrance to the beach,” Mr O’Toole said adding, “it was awful to see.” 

Mr O’Toole was among a number of residents in the area who undertook a clean-up of the amenities, with rubbish subsequently collected by Cork County Council.

Residents have also now organised a clean-up of the town to take place this week and Mr O’Toole is leading the formation of a Tidy Towns group for the area.

The Ringaskiddy resident highlighted how there are no public bins in the town and said he believed that this is something that needed to be addressed.

Meanwhile, local councillor Seamus McGrath said he had been in touch with waste enforcement on the issue.

“It’s very unfortunate to see that kind of behaviour, when people don’t have respect for an amenity,” he said.

“Going forward I will be asking the litter warden to increase surveillance there,” he said.

Cork County Council said it does not comment on individual litter or illegal dumping detections, complaints or investigations.

It said beach and amenity areas countywide, including those in Ringaskiddy, are monitored by the Council via routine litter patrols and inspections and that persons identified littering are subject to a €150 litter fine or a maximum fine of €3,000 if convicted in the District Court.

The local authority says littering or illegal dumping should be reported by contacting the Council’s Anti-Litter Unit at 021 4285417 (9am-5pm Mon-Fri) or the 24-hour National Environmental Complaints Line on 1850 365 121.