28/10/2011 -

Costs of Halloween Can Impact on Essential Services

Sligo Borough Council and Sligo County Council, together with local authorities throughout the country, are bracing themselves for the annual week of increased fire call-outs followed by extensive clean-ups and costly repairs.

Essential services

The unnecessary cost of extra fire fighting and clean-ups as a result of Halloween puts a great strain on Council resources. At this time of year local authorities need to be able to prioritise responding to severe weather such as the recent flooding. Repairing potholes and keeping roads open and safe, if and when, snow and ice arrive is what local authorities need to gear up to. According to Sligo County Manager Hubert Kearns ‘We will be under increased pressure to deliver these essential services if we have to spend large sums of money on dealing with illegal bonfires and clearing up the litter left behind in the aftermath.‘

Bonfires

Sligo County Council believes communities should support locally organised and approved Halloween events and discourage the organisation or holding of bonfires in their area.  “We are asking people to report any bonfires they see being built over the coming days. This will assist the Sligo Local Authorities in preventing them taking place in the first place, which in turn will reduce the cost and effort that would be spent on cleaning up the aftermath.  While this may curtail the plans of a few, it will ensure that the many can continue to enjoy our public parks, playing pitches, playgrounds and green spaces”.

Environment

The burning of waste such as rubber, aerosols, plastics, foam, mattresses, couches and household waste material in bonfires is very damaging to our health and environment and is also a prosecutable offence. These bonfires may be dismantled. Materials in bonfires on bonfire night should be limited to untreated wood, turf and straw.

There is also the concern that bonfires may not be properly supervised, and that on occasion householders take the opportunity to off-load their household waste on the fire. The Council insists that people who organise a bonfire should organise the clean-up afterwards.

The Sligo Local Authorities want to see people enjoying the various Halloween activities, but in a safe manner that respects the environment, ensures public safety and minimizes the burden on the emergency services.