Dumping blights Santry River

THESE are the shocking pictures of the filth that’s
polluting Santry River, which feeds into the protected reserve and tourist
attraction of Bull Island.

Northside People can exclusively reveal the deplorable
dumping that has blighted the river upstream from where it enters the bay at
Bull Island, which is classified as an UNESCO biosphere reserve.

The images show countless wooden pallets, metal
sheeting and plastic containers and even the base of a bed pilled on the river
where it travels parallel to Oscar Traynor Road.

A disgusted passer-by who cycles the length of Santry
River to where it meets Bull Island each week highlighted the situation.

“It’s an absolute disgrace that this river could be
polluted and so full of rubbish less than one kilometre from where it meets the
bay and Bull Island,

? Dean Scurry from Ballymun told Northside People.

“As a city we take pride and promote our natural
attractions such as Bull Island but what tourists don’t realise is how much
dumping and pollution is affecting our tributaries.

“What kind of message is that sending out – that we
only care about the resources that are visible to tourists?

?

According to Mr Scurry the dumping could be detrimental
to the ecology and wildlife of Bull Island.

“The Island and the bay supports so many species of
wildlife,

? he stated.

“I don’t imagine UNESCO (United Nations Educational,
Scientific, and Cultural Organisation) would be too happy if they knew the
quality of water that was entering the bay through Santry River.

?

Dublin City Council were unaware of the dumping
problem until contacted by Northside People.

Within hours the council’s Public Domain Officer
visited the site to assess the situation.

“A crew are on site this morning, February 3 and will
return on Monday, February 6 to clear up the site,

? the council spokesperson
stated.

“It has been difficult to gain access to the site as
it is fenced off.

“No complaints had been received by the council in relation
to the dumping at this site.

?

Bull Island is a small man-made island built up over
200 years as a result of the construction of the north harbour wall of Dublin
Port.

It has an adjoining foreshore of sandy beaches, dunes,
saltmarshes and mudflats.

Its location as a UNESCO Biosphere reserve within a
capital city is also unique and it is classified as a Wetland of International
importance under the Ramsar Convention.