Compost heap war drags on

In the North Eastern Tribune week ending 17 October, the college principal Elizabeth Redmond raised her disappointment with Torah Academy’s refusal to remove a compost heap they developed in their sports field adjacent to the college’s pre-school. The resident said that Redmond opened the door to the saying ‘The pot calling the kettle black’. The resident said this applied to the principal. “The college’s holding company, Maryvale Catholic Church, has a huge compost heap in full view of all who walk past the church. The worst part of it is that it was placed next to the grotto where the church had placed a statue of ‘Blessed Mother Mary’.” The resident also wondered if Pope Francis would be impressed with this, seeing that he has a special devotion to the Blessed Mother. She stated there was an increase in rats, not mice, in the area and the department of health should be called to visit the site.

As far as Torah Academy is concerned, her reply regarding no rodents found, “Please, who are they trying fool and pull the wool over our eyes.” She said with all the compost heaps in the area, the health department and the councillor should be called. Ward 74 councillor Jack Cooper said he received no complaints with this problem and would refer it to the city’s environmental health to investigate. Cooper said, “It is quite possible that rats could breed in such an environment. Possibly the schools did not envisage the problem.”

In her response, the college’s principal Redmond said, “To put the record straight, Maryvale College is not part of a ‘holding company’, called Maryvale Catholic Church. However I spoke to the secretary at the church. She said they have been doing a big pruning job on all the trees and plants around the church gardens. It is true that the cuttings, sweepings and other weeds have been stored behind the grotto. They are in the process of removing this ‘compost heap’. Seven loads have already been removed. It should be fully cleared within the next few weeks.” Redmond has seen people removing the compost heap at Torah Academy which is a relief for her.

Previous article:

Schools at war over compost heap