Littering our beauty spots: 'The bottles and cans being left behind epitomizes our society today'

CONCERNS have been raised about the excessive littering and anti-social behaviour at Cork’s coastal areas since lockdown restrictions were lifted.

Local residents of Fountainstown Beach, Myrtleville, Fennel’s Bay, Church Bay and Graball Bay have been left to face discarded cans, bottles and other rubbish.

Resident of Graball Bay, Michael Peterson, said there are always cans and bottles left behind.

Mr Peterson said there are times he is “almost reluctant” to pick up the litter, because the people who left it behind did so knowing that someone else would pick it up. 

However, he also said there are also people who are conscious about the area and had a recent encounter with a group of young people who offered to help him clean up litter left by others.

There are nearby recycling bins on Camden Road where “cans and bottles can easily be recycled” and Mr Peterson said that signage might remind people to clean up after themselves.

He said that Graball Bay does not get as many visitors as other nearby areas.

The 220X bus, which runs from the city centre to Crosshaven, has been carrying young people to the area who then partake in “anti-social behaviour” which Fianna Fáil Councillor Audrey Buckley said should result in fines. 

“We want people to come down and enjoy the area and spend in the area but the drinking and the bottles and cans being left behind epitomizes our society today.” 

Cllr Buckley said that she has sought Bigbelly bins for Crosshaven during the summer months from Cork County Council and that signage is being placed on beaches in the area also.

There are two litter wardens in the Crosshaven area but Cllr Buckely said that the problem is that “these parties are taking place in the evenings and there is no litter warden who works past 5pm”.

She said that “it is only a few that are ruining it for the many” and that the 3 for the Sea initiative to stop plastic pollution has seen children who won’t leave the beach until they have found three pieces of plastic to bin.