The southern bit of Gibraltar’s eastside is without doubt a beauty spot. Wild flowers bloom year-round; the coastal walls are rugged, natural limestone; the views are spectacular, not an inappropriate high-rise tower in sight. Amidst the quiet tranquility birds swoop above the cave entrances and the Mediterranean Sea fans out below. Why, oh why, then is this the area where Gibraltar dumps all its waste and rubbish?
When the awful expensive folly which was the incinerator finally got dismantled and demolished many of us hoped the amenity site would be moved nearer to the frontier. Gibraltar’s waste gets taken to Spain in large, slow-moving trucks, so wouldn’t it be more sensible to have all the Rock’s junkyards situated closer to the border? Europa Advance Road leading through the tunnel into Brian Navarro Way then on past the beaches into Devil’s Tower Road is a very long and winding single carriageway. The constant rumbling of HGVs back-and-forth puts pressure on the roads and causes tailbacks and congestion; this stretch is full of potholes, bald patches and bumps. The recent closures showed the public how vital this artery is and how any works and maintenance to the tunnel causes delays and knock-on effects to all other areas. Therefore we need to think about all the unnecessary road use and make plans to that effect.
The worst horror of all has to be ‘The Smelly Place’. Situated just above the entrance to Gorham’s Cave Complex (Gibraltar’s first and only UNESCO World Heritage Site) is an open mosh-pit of filth. One’s nostrils feel the stench long before a mountain of seeping plastic bin bags comes into view. Pass by on a windy day and trash will be strewn all over the road, down the cliff side or floating up into the air and out to sea. Pass by at dusk and witness seagulls, cats, apes and rats feasting on the contents and fighting over discarded chicken legs. It is shocking that a natural quarry in an AONB (area of outstanding natural beauty) is used as an open slop-tray but still worse is the fact that staff are inside a small portacabin breathing that stuff in 24/7. During the Small Island Games this was the route for the long-distance cycle race and riders had to pass by about forty times, a feat of endurance and stamina indeed.
Gibraltar needs to re-think its waste disposal systems and bins. There are piles of cigarette ends all over our streets (isn’t throwing a butt on the floor a littering offence?) Not everyone has access to a van so large items of furniture are left on pavements. In other countries amenity sites have an area where discarded items which are still usable are laid out and either given away or sold on for a small sum. These ‘Tip Shops’ are run/staffed by local authorities or charities. (Surely this is a project which could be spearheaded and run by our Environmental Agency/Thinking Green?) Someone who needs furniture but cannot afford it can go to the amenity site and recycle what others have thrown out. Not so in Gibraltar. I went to the skips with some good chairs and asked the men where to put them. They told me to throw them inside as they would be smashed up, “But these are in good condition someone might like them?” I protested, but the men just laughed at me and shrugged their shoulders.
Gibraltar’s dumping grounds on the south east side could easily be moved north freeing up the area for something more useful and aesthetically pleasing. It wouldn’t be difficult or expensive as they consist merely of skips and a few cabins. The Smelly Place is opposite the shooting range. It just needs a deep clean and clear-out and could be transformed into a lookout point, café (Gorham’s Café?) and car park for the range and the cave complex. Why do we have stinking, messy dumps on our beautiful coastal walkways? It is time to get them moved to a more sensible location nearer their final destination and give the rest of us room to breathe.
Hear hear. Very well said.
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