Creggan road seen by millions in 'Derry Girls' blighted by fly-tippers during COVID-19 lockdown

A famous Derry road familiar to millions from the hit Channel 4 sitcom 'Derry Girls' has suffered a spate of fly-tipping and illegal dumping during the COVID-19 lockdown.
Fly-tipped rubbish on the Glassagh Road.Fly-tipped rubbish on the Glassagh Road.
Fly-tipped rubbish on the Glassagh Road.

The Glassagh Road in Creggan commands stunning views of the city and features in the opening sequence of 'Derry Girls'.

However, it's now among a number of rural roads south west of the city that have been hit by illegal dumpers.

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Sinn Féin Councillor Tina Burke says there has been a lot of dumping in the rural townlands between Creggan and the Donegal border over recent weeks.

An item illegally dumped on the side of the Glassagh Road.An item illegally dumped on the side of the Glassagh Road.
An item illegally dumped on the side of the Glassagh Road.

“I was contacted by a number of residents and people who were traveling through the area and saw more evidence of blatant illegal dumping which has taken place.

“This is a lovely area with great views across our city, but some people feel they can pull up in a car or van and dump their rubbish and drive off and its someone else’s job to clean it up," she said.

Colr. Burke says the area's beauty is being destroyed and has suggested steeper fines for those responsible as a deterrent.

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“There is an obvious social, environmental, and economic cost to this reprehensible activity, that risks polluting our natural environment and waterways.

Indiscriminate dumping in the city's rural hinterland.Indiscriminate dumping in the city's rural hinterland.
Indiscriminate dumping in the city's rural hinterland.

"In this context, I strongly support the potential for increased fines on those responsible for dumping illegal waste on our roads and green spaces. In the future, criminal sanctions should play a bigger role for those caught dumping and fly-tipping," she said.