City Hall’s decision to introduce cutbacks in litter management is “not sensible” as it will result in more rubbish on the streets, bad publicity, and affect health and safety.
This is the view of Independent councillor and chair of the Galway City Council’s Environment Strategic Policy Committee, Catherine Connolly.
Cllr Connolly said that while she accepts there are “serious financial restraints” on the city council this year, cutbacks in litter management “cannot be tolerated” and “cannot extend to overtime at the weekends”, particularly this coming weekend with the Salthill Arts Festival.
According to Cllr Connolly, last weekend, “on one of the rare fine weekends this summer”, the council had intended that no litter team would be on duty but in the end changed its mind owing to the good weather.
Salthill will see an increase in visitors owing to the Salthill Arts Festival and if there is no litter management team on duty, Cllr Connolly says, “the litter situation would be intolerable”.
While she accepts there must be cutbacks, Cllr Connolly said these cannot be made in relation to ordinary workers on the ground without whom the city would be in “an intolerable mess”.
Cllr Connolly also understands that the small sweeping trucks have been removed as a result of cutbacks.
“This will make it very difficult to keep areas like the new cycle/walkway path in South Park clean as well as the prom and other areas,” said.
Cllr Connolly said she will be seeking full clarification on what exactly is happening but in the meantime will be asking city manager Joe MacGrath to ensure that workers from the Litter Management Team are on duty for the Salthill Arts Festival.
