By Conor Sharkey
NORTHERN Ireland Electricity has vowed to begin clearing illegally dumped rubbish in the Ballycolman Estate immediately in a bid to avoid a potential rat infestation.
Bags of household waste, furniture and general rubbish have been building up to the rear of an electricity transformer close to several houses in the estate. The problem escalated in the run up to Halloween with even more waste appearing in the dead of night, providing ideal nesting grounds for rats and other vermin.
Earlier this week, Ballycolman resident Sandra McLaughlin contacted the Strabane Chronicle, after various failed attempts to track those responsible for ownership of the land. Ms McLaughlin contacted the Housing Executive and Strabane District Council in a bid to have the site cleared, but to no avail.
She explained: "The dumping has been going on for a long time but it has got worse over the last few months.
"I would be worried, not so much for myself, but my neighbour has young children and this rubbish is building into a nesting ground for rats. There are chairs, bits of tables and general household rubbish and it is worrying coming into the winter. I've spoken to the Housing Executive, the Electric Board and the Council but I just keep getting shifted from pillar to post. Somebody needs to take responsibility because it has gone beyond a joke," she said.
The Strabane Chronicle contacted the various authorities on Tuesday and eventually got some satisfaction from NIE. They promised to take responsibility for clearing the dumped rubbish and urged the public to inform them of any other similar problems.
NIE's Customer Relations Officer Fiona McClintock explained: "NIE condemn those who have been using electricity equipment, located in the Balycolman area of Strabane, as a dumping ground. Local residents kindly reported the illegal dumping to NIE, through the Strabane Chronicle.
"We greatly appreciate the notification received and will be taking remedial action as soon as possible. Those responsible for this illegal dumping cause not only an environmental hazard but also considerable inconvenience to local residents.
"I would ask all members of the local community to be extra vigilant and to report anything suspicious to ourselves on 08457 643 643," Ms McClintock said.
