North Belfast: Residents protest over suspected illegal dumping

Residents have protested against the dump in north Belfast

A protest has taken place close to a warehouse in north Belfast which residents say is being used for illegal dumping.

DUP councillor Brian Kingston joined the group of more than 20 residents at the Edenderry industrial estate on the Crumlin Road.

They have called on the Environment Agency to take immediate action.

The agency is investigating the site and another close to the junction of Hillview Road/Crumlin Road.

North Belfast MP John Finucane said it was completely unacceptable that the situation was allowed to develop to a stage where some residents had had to leave their homes.

He said he had spoken with the head of enforcement at the Environment Agency earlier and was told work to clear the dump at the industrial estate would begin imminently.

"The landlord I understand has secured a contractor to come in and clear that site," he told the BBC.

"The priority will be the household waste of which there is a large amount which is obviously attracting the flies and rats.

North Belfast MP John Finucane said the situation was completely unacceptable

"That will hopefully be cleared in its entirety by the end of the week and then other items such as wood will be cleared."

He added: "It's also now a live investigation and I think that anybody who has even had a passing interest in this will realise the depth of feeling from the residents who are directly affected.

"It requires a very strong response because it's totally unacceptable that an individual or individuals think that it's OK to take waste and dump it in this manner."

Officials are expected to clear the site adjacent to the junction of Hillview Road/Crumlin Road on Monday or Tuesday.

Local people said that a number of residents have left their homes due to large numbers of rats and flies.

Environment Minister Edwin Poots had been asked to intervene over the suspected illegal dumping.

Used mattresses, medical equipment, food waste and gas bottles are just some of the dumped waste.

DUP councillor Brian Kingston said the Environment Agency is to remove the rubbish that has been dumped at one site, while it has engaged with the owner of the second site and secured a commitment that the waste there will be cleared.

Suspected illegal dumping at the site of Edenderry Industrial Estate

Locals earlier told the BBC that every day for eight weeks, lorry loads of waste have been dumped at these two sites

A Northern Ireland Environment Agency spokesman earlier said it is investigating the "unauthorised disposal and treatment of controlled wastes" at Edenderry Industrial Estate and the unauthorised disposal of controlled wastes at a site adjacent to the junction of Hillview Road/Crumlin Road.

"The agency are currently making arrangements for the waste deposited on the latter site to be removed.

"As these investigations are on-going it would not be appropriate to comment further at this stage."