WHILE there are no immediate plans to develop a natural parklands area along the New Road district of Thomondgate, residents concerned about an increased amount of illegal dumping in the New Road, the Quarry Road and Browne’s Quay, are being encouraged to work with the Tidy Towns initiative to improve their areas.

Concerned residents are currently frustrated by the excessive amounts of rubbish that are being indiscriminately dumped in their area, much of it is even being deposited behind protective bars fronting their premises.

“We’ve had an old couch and a three-piece suite left on Browne’s Quay and a huge assortment of all kinds of things thrown on to the Quarry Road/New road corner - it’s an ongoing situation and is happening throughout all of Thomondgate - worse than I’ve ever remembered it- and I’m living here a long time,” he told the Limerick Post.
Another resident said that the number of takeaway outlets and off-licence premises in the area “probably does not help the situation.
“But it’s very frustrating and depressing to find that people are chucking the stuff over the fencing in front of our houses and also behind concrete barriers.
“While we one time thought it would help if the city council removed the fencing, we know now that would create other problems.”
A resident who has grandchildren living nearby, pointed out that there is a high proportion of youngsters living in in the area.
“We would really love to see the place improved - to give them their due, the council does remove the stuff dumped when we report it, but it’s happening nearly all the time now and with the summer coming, it’s unhealthy and depressing to think about facing that scenario most mornings,” he told the Limerick Post.
It emerged from listening to the residents’ concerns that a number of them would love to see a wildlife habitat developed in the riverside area.
“There are swans and lots of different kinds of birds coming in on the river and a sanctuary could be developed near Barrack Lane Boat Club.
“As it is, it is not possible to utilise the pond in front of the houses on Kileely Road, where for years, the swans used to walk up to the people and the children, they were so tame, and where coots, mooreheads, gulls and lots of other types of bird flew in to land”.
Paul Foley of the city council’s environment department, said that while there are no definite plans for the area just now, it “could have the potential, in conjunction with the local community” to benefit from the launch shortly of the new biodiversity strategy for the city”.
Mr Foley also agreed that the area could benefit from the development of the site.
“The membrane covering the former landfill site needs another 12 months to settle, before we can touch it, but given its proximity to the New Road, Brown’s Quay areas, there is a possibility they could benefit environmentally and ecologically from the development”.