CCTV to be installed at two bring banks in Mullingar area
CCTV is to be installed at two key bottle bank sites in Mullingar – Delvin Road and Austin Friars Street Car Park – in an effort to curb illegal dumping, the Municipal District of Mullingar Kinnegad has disclosed.
The revelation was made to Cllr David Jones, who inquired at the November meeting of the Municipal District of Mullingar Kinnegad about expanding CCTV coverage to the bottle banks in Milltownpass.
The written request to his query, before revealing that Milltownpass is not to receive CCTV just yet, explained that the Code of Practice states that CCTV will only be introduced to address or resolve an identifiable and specific problem with alleged breaches of the Litter Act of 1997.
“Before Westmeath County Council can consider a CCTV scheme, there is a detailed process that must be followed,” the response stated, explaining that the process involved establishing the clear need, where less intrusive measures have failed, and confirming that CCTV is a proportionate response.
Additionally, a local Data Protection Impact Assessment (DPIA) and a business case have to be submitted for Oversight Committee review and chief executive approval, the council stated.
However, funded by a €40,000 grant under the 2024 Anti-Dumping Initiative, the district is moving forward with the installation of CCTV at the Bring banks at the Delvin Road, and the Austin Friars Street car park in Mullingar.
A CCTV surveillance contractor has been engaged and following that initial process, Cllr Jones was informed, a further roll-out of CCTV cameras will be considered for deployment in additional sites and will be prioritised based on proven need and available finance.
“Milltownpass will be considered,” he was assured.
Collinstown
At the same meeting, Cllr Jones asked that a particular site in Collinstown be examined as a potential location for glass bottle bins, and he was informed that the district’s environment section is currently investigating the suitability of that location.