§ Lord Lairdasked Her Majesty's Government:
Further to the Written Answer by the Lord President on 22 January (WA 145), which public authorities are adjacent landowners to the Knock and Connswater Rivers; whether they are aware of their responsibilities regarding the clearance from the banks and channels of rubbish and dumped materials; when they last did so; and over which stretches of the rivers. [HL1259]
§ Baroness AmosThe Department of Regional Development (DRD) Roads Service and Belfast Education and Library Board (BELB) own small areas of land adjacent to the Knock and Connswater Rivers respectively.
The Knock and Connswater Rivers also flow through public parks, which are the responsibility of Belfast City Council.
DRD Roads Service and Belfast Education and Library Board are aware of their responsibilities as landowners. Maintenance activities, including the removal of litter and other similar material, are undertaken on an ad-hoc basis, as necessary. The Roads Service will carry out an inspection of the area it owns and arrange for the removal of any rubbish found on the riverbanks before the end of February 2004.
BELB also plans to replace fencing adjacent to the Connswater River at Elmgrove Primary School and will take the opportunity to investigate the need for removal of rubbish on this stretch of the river. It is understood that public park maintenance operations by Belfast City Council would also cover litter control on the banks of the rivers flowing through the parks.