Meeting hears of grass cutting issues across Dundalk
No Mow May: Some councillors said the initiative was causing problems across the town
Grass cutting on the Naavy Bank and in Dundalk more generally was raised at Tuesday’s meeting of Dundalk Municipal District.
Councillor Robert Nash said that the local tidy towns “have done an awful lot of work in the last few weeks on the Naavy Bank and only for them it’d be in very bad condition.”
He continued: “The council do clean it up once a year for the Paddy Chesire 5k, but I do think there has to be a better maintenance plan for the Naavy Bank. It’s a natural Greenway that we’re not looking after, especially the bottom of it. Not just the jetty which is falling into the river, but the signage and the benches too.”
Councillor Nash said that if there was a maintenance plan put in place it’d be easier to stay on top of.
Sinn Fein councillor Kevin Meenan agreed with councillor Nash saying, “There’s issues with No Mow May.
“I think it gives cover for dumping in some areas. I think it’s something we really have to look at next year. We haven got a huge amount of people ringing and complaining that it gives cover in some areas. I agree with the concept of it, it’s fine and grand, but there are issues.”
Fianna Fail councillor Sean Kelly said that there were some areas of Dundalk that have been left uncut.
“I know cutting has been delayed because of No Mow May and the rain, but areas like Pearse Park, the grass is over two feet high, Hill View at the back of O’Hanlon Park still hasn’t been cut and is now approaching close to three feet.
“We’re actually creating more work for the Council staff because they have to go in now and cut it back down because it has been let grow so high.
“As Councillor Meenan has suggested, it has led to increased dumping in the area because people have the opportunity to throw small bags of rubbish into it and nobody ever sees it as they’re walking through.”
In regards to the Naavy Bank he said he completely agreed with councillor Nash adding “we have completely dropped the ball there.”
“It is a fantastic amenity that we have in Dundalk and that has gone to absolute ruin. I was walking down it on Sunday afternoon, and with the nettles on both sides it would not be safe to walk a child there because if they come off the path they are into a pile of nettles and would be injured.
“Can we not be looking at the outdoor recreation schemes as a funding mechanism to do some proper long term work down there and correct the footpath and widen it out and get a cycle lane in to utilise it fully?”
In response Senior Engineer Paddy Connolly said he would look into it the issues raised and come back, adding:
“We accept that that is an issue but I would point out that over the last number of weeks we have removed sixty cubic metres of dumped waste in Ard Easmiunn and Ashling Park where it wasn’t no mow May….”