Longford fast food outlet in firing line over litter

Council chiefs vowed last week to take enforcement action against the owners of Five Star Pizza and the main street premises’ landlord amid claims refuse bins belonging to the fast food restaurant are being left permanently on the public access area to Garvey’s Yard.

The latter provides a shortcut to Annaly car park, a council owned facility that is readily used by shoppers and local employees.
Fianna Fáil Cllr Uruemu Adejinmi said she had received complaints from local homeowners and students who had been left perturbed by the issue.

“It’s okay to bring them (bins) out for collection and then bring them back in, but to leave them out there is unacceptable,” she said.

“I have been contacted by residents and even students in secondary schools who have shared that they are afraid to pass the area on their way to school.

“It’s important to have these access areas clear to make our town safer and cleaner for everybody.”

Fellow party member Cllr Seamus Butler agreed, describing the problem as a “broken window syndrome” and one which, without intervention, was likely to deteriorate further.

“Once people see rubbish around it’s a case of anything goes here and it attracts that sort of element,” he said.

“If a place is spic and span, even a piece of paper becomes noticeable. That is not the case here, it is a chronic situation and it needs to be put an end t,” Cllr Butler said.

In response, administrative officer Lorraine McKee said the council’s environment section were currently in talks with the business owner, but warned unless don’t get the “appropriate results” are seen “enforcement action will be taken”.