SHANNON LEISURE CENTRE will not be used as the location for a mobile bring bank site in the town, despite pleas from local representatives.

In 2017, Clare County Council removed the bottle bank from Shannon Leisure Centre. A recycling centre remains in operation in Smithstown. According to Cllr Gerry Flynn (IND) the decision to remove the bottle bank “has inconvenienced members of the public in Shannon with limited access to the Recycling Centre”.

He asked that a mobile unit be provided within the environs of Shannon Town “to safely facilitate people accessing a bottle bank. I would suggest possible one day a week on a trial basis”.

Senior engineer with the Council’s water services and environment section, Cyril Feeney explained that the original site at the Leisure Centre “is no longer suitable due to resurfacing works at the centre which will not facilitate the turning movements of the collection vehicles which service the bring banks without potentially damaging the new surface”.

Efforts are ongoing to have an additional bring bank facility in Shannon, Feeney confirmed. “The site will need to be readily accessible for safe vehicular access and be in a well lit area to facilitate users. We are currently investigating the ownership and suitability of a number of sites. It is not possible at the time to provide a mobile unit due to transport logistics and the provision of a suitable site but we will continue to look to provide a permanent location,” he stated.

Speaking at a sitting of the Shannon Municipal District, Cllr Flynn voiced his unhappiness with the response. The Smithstown recycling centre incorporates the entire MD, he noted while reinforcing his call for a dedicated facility for the town to aid the individuals with mobility issues that have struggled to get to Smithstown. “I thought the mobile service suggestion was reasonable, it would afford people who used to walk to the bottle bank the comfort by having it there for half a day a week. It should be worked on, I’m not happy with response,” he said.

In seconding the proposal, Cllr Donna McGettigan (SF) referenced the importance of recycling. “If it is out of sight it is out of mind, a mobile unit is a good idea”.

Consumption of alcohol at home has increased since the pandemic, Cllr Pat O’Gorman (FF) observed. “People have started socialising more at home and there are more bottles being produced, when you factor in childcare and taxi costs. The bottle bank in Sixmilebridge is filling twice as fast as it was before,” he commented while rowing behind the motion. Support was also voiced by Cllr PJ Ryan (IND) and Cllr Pat McMahon (FF).