Posted online: May 4th, 2010

Inishowen residents have been called on to take the registration numbers of vehicles from which litter is thrown and pass the details on to the Gardai in an attempt to keep the peninsula’s roads “litter free.”

The call from Cllr. Mickey Doherty follows a number of “Big Spring Clean-Ups” across the peninsula, one of which resulted in a staggering 19 tonnes of rubbish being collected.

Over the past few weeks, volunteers have turned out in their hundreds to clean up roadsides and public areas throughout the peninsula – the latest being Carndonagh at the weekend. An astonishing 19 tonnes of rubbish was gathered in the Muff, Quigley’s Point and Redcastle clean-up alone.

Cllr Doherty, who organised the clean-up, applauded the “enormous” turn out.

The clean-up, the first of its kind ever held in the area, covered a 12 mile stretch along the main Derry to Moville road, from the border at Muff to Redcastle.

Cllr Doherty said he was “delighted” at how successful the effort was.

He said: “There were people and children from all denominations there picking litter -  gardai, teachers, nurses, customs employees, housewives, ‘househusbands,’ scouts, brigini cubs, students, children accompanied by parents and even a dog wearing a hi-vis jacket.  Dogs are normally accused of fouling, but this one had different ideas.”

He added: “The success of this is so evident when you drive along these roads now. I would appeal to those using these routes or any road to refrain from throwing litter from vehicles and show respect for our beautiful county and the work the communities are putting into retain this beauty.”

Cllr Doherty called on members of the public to report “litter-louts” so the efforts put in by local communities would not be ruined.

He said: “I appeal to the general public to be alert to the problem and take registrations or names if known and report to the local authorities or myself.” 

He concluded: “A big thank you to everyone who turned out on April 22 and 23 and again on the Craig Road on April 29. Also to the local media for giving these clean ups such great coverage.”

Meanwhile, the clean-ups continue tonight and Thursday night in the Greencastle, Shrove and Moville areas.

Volunteers are asked to meet at Greencastle Community Centre at 6.00pm on both nights. This clean up follows a meeting of Councillors Mickey Doherty and Martin Farren with local community groups. Both councilors said they would like to see a “good neighbourhood” turn out along with different community groups.

They also pointed out only children attending secondary school or accompanied by a parent or guardian could attend due to the volume of  traffic on the roads to be cleaned. 

Bags, gloves, some pickers and some hi-vis jackets will be available. Those  with hi-vis clothing are asked to wear it on the evenings concerned.   

Cllr. Doherty said a clean-up was being arranged from Drung to Moville. He said anyone interested in help organise it “are welcome” to contact hm on 9383077 or 0872121789.