Call on city council to create litter-free zone at The Lough

CORK City Council is being urged to put in place a plan to make one of the city’s favourite amenity areas a litter-free zone.

William O’Brien, who is running as an Independent candidate in the Cork City South Central ward, has asked that the city council enact a litter plan at The Lough, noting that the area often sees increased littering in warm weather.

“There is a well-documented history of irresponsible behaviour by some visitors to The Lough during the spring and summer months, which brings an increase in the need for litter management,” said Mr O’Brien.

The local election candidate added that he had engaged with residents who had highlighted that litter continues to be discarded in their gardens and on the large green space by The Lough.

“One local resident had taken action and did regular clean-ups as certain areas adjacent to his home were becoming black spots for littering,” he said.

Mr O’Brien added that last June he put in a request to Cork City Council’s Parks and Recreation department for the installation of an additional litter bin at the northern side of The Lough and said that a bin had been installed.

“It was hoped that this welcome investment by Cork City Council would help relieve the litter problem affecting local residents, but after seeing the littering that took place this last weekend, we most certainly need a solution to litter pollution in the general environment of The Lough.

“I am calling on Cork City Council to consider putting a litter plan in place at The Lough for 2024.

“I feel it should be a litter-free zone, which can be brought about by initiatives undertaken by Cork City Council, together with the efforts of the general public, to maintain a litter-free environment so that everyone visiting The Lough can have an enjoyable, cleaner experience and visitors have respect for people living nearby,” said Mr O’Brien.

Stephen Scully, communications liaison officer with Cork City Council’s Parks and Recreation department, said there are currently 10 bins at The Lough, emptied seven days a week, including Sundays and bank holidays, by parks staff.

“Generally, there is no issue with litter but last weekend, given the unexpected good weather, large crowds spent time there and were consuming food and soft drinks which meant there was a large volume of disposable waste.

“We would appeal to people enjoying the amenity to leave no trace — if the bins are full, to please take their rubbish home.”