Coalisland canal suffers from illegal waste dumping

Residents of Coalisland, County Tyrone, are expressing concern over waste dumping in the historic Coalisland canal. Abandoned trolleys, car tyres, and traffic cones are polluting the area, which has become a popular spot for walkers and photographers. Mid Ulster Council is aware of the issue and plans to remove the waste soon. The canal, which was abandoned in 1954, has seen over 2,700 waste dumping incidents in Northern Ireland in the past five years, with more than 200 in the Mid Ulster area. Local community groups are eager to help clean the canal but face bureaucratic hurdles. The council typically cleans the canal twice a year, with the last cleanup occurring in December 2024.