‘Giro’ litter bugs could be caught on camera

Big Brother tactics could be used in a bid to give Giro d’Italia cyclists a clean path through Ballymena when they cycle into town on May 10.
Seven Towers roundabout.Seven Towers roundabout.
Seven Towers roundabout.

Confirmation that Ballymena Council can deploy CCTV in areas of the borough where littering or unlawful dumping is a problem, was given to councillors at their latest monthly meeting in The Braid, last week.

It came from Acting Town Clerk & Chief Executive, Rodger McKnight in response to Cllr Billy Henry who queried if cameras could be used to ensure the town’s roadways would be kept “as presentable as possible” particularly for events such as the forthcoming Giro.

“We do have the facility,” said Mr McKnight.

“We have used them in the past to secure convictions for unlawful dumping but, there are very strict conditions for deployment,” he added.

Alderman PJ McAvoy underlined the need for the roads, streets and even adjacent land along the route to be squeaky clean when the world famous cycle race passes into and through the town given the passage of the Giro will be filmed every stage of the way, not just on the ground but from the air, via helicopters.

He told the meeting that he had discovered, having recently watched a televised cycle race, that overhead filming exposed virtually every blade of grass along the way to viewers throughout the world.

Mr McKnight said that Council has a dedicated ‘litter pick team’ who work to “a cycle and a regime” and who are tasked to respond to any litter problems that are raised with Council.

He also explained, following queries by some members, that there could seem to be a surge in litter along roadsides in the aftermath of bi-annual cutting of grass verges by Roads Service but that these were cases when litter was simply “thrown up or exposed” in the cutting process.

“We can work a bit smarter with our colleagues in Roads Service and work in tandem to improve the situation,” he said.

Mr McKnight said that while Council had finite resources for litter picking it could be possible to bring in an addition team of four for a few weeks, if required, but only if it could be funded through existing budgets.

Councillors agreed in principle that the possibility be investigated.