Illegal dumping at the former Lady of Mercy school site.
Those responsible for criminal damage to expensive fencing and illegal dumping at a disused secondary school site have been called on to show respect to the residents in the area.
The call comes from Strabane Sinn Fein Cllr Karina Carlin who was hitting out at those using the vacant Our Lady of Mercy Secondary School site in the town as a dumping ground.
Calling for the activity to stop, Cllr Carlin said those responsible should show respect to the residents in the Springhill, Mount Carmel Heights and Evish Grove areas.
Cllr Carlin said serious damage had been caused to two entrance gates and individuals were seen illegally dumping large household items on the site in broad daylight.
She added: ” When I visited the site, it was clear the dumping and the damage to the gates were not carried out by youngsters.
“”Indeed, the locking bolt to the gate was obviously severed by a Stihl saw.
Cllr Karina Carlin
“The chain lock on the main gate had been also forcibly broken.
Cllr Carlin said residents, who were involved in a “clean up” of the area in recent weeks, were “very angry” that their good work was being undone by “unscrupulous” individuals.
She added: “The result of this criminal damage and illegal dumping is that the area is now open to anti-community elements, and further dumping, both of which will cause misery for local residents of neighbouring estates and obvious hazards to local children and young people who are attracted to the site by ease of access.
“In particular, residents have reported the site is being used by unsupervised youngsters on scramblers and dirt bikes.
“I ask those responsible for the damage and the dumping to realise the negative impact of their actions on local residents and desist immediately.
“Council staff will now have the task of clearing the site and every effort will be made to identify and pursue those responsible.
“Meanwhile the landowner- the parish and Diocese – will have to foot the bill of costly repairs or replacement of the damaged fencing.”
Cllr Carlin concluded: “I also appeal directly to the parents of young people concerned in using the site for riding their scramblers and dirt bikes, to ensure their children are properly supervised by a responsible adult, rather than risking their safety and that of local residents.”
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