Áine Ryan
aineryan@mayonews.ie
COUNTY TOWN, Castlebar, and the north Mayo capital of Ballina, have waged some of the best anti-litter campaigns in the country, according to a survey by Irish Business Against Litter (IBAL).
Castlebar Town Councillor Eugene McCormack told The Mayo News last night that the news was ‘absolutely wonderful’.
“This is an endorsement of all the hard work by the different organisations, particularly the Tidy Towns committee, local businesses and of course the town council. They have all put great efforts into cleaning-up and enhancing the town. Some months ago we had a lot of visitors during the choral festival and we were delighted to receive much positive commentary about recent developments; the jewel in the crown is of course the works at Lough Lannagh. The main street project has also greatly improved the atmosphere and quality of the town,” Cllr McCormack said.
He said monies were already ring-fenced for the next phase of developments at Lough Lannagh, which will see the extension of the walkway to Islandeady, subject to landholder approval.
A spokesman for An Taisce said: “Castlebar was very good in 2011 and gets its best result ever in the eleven years of IBAL Anti-Litter League in 2012. Nine out of ten sites surveyed got the top litter grade. It was one of four towns to achieve this excellent result. What sets Castlebar and other top ranking towns apart is not just the lack of litter but the way in which the environment is presented and maintained. Some neglected buildings on Ellison Street were the only blemish.”
Speaking about Ballina, the spokesman said: “Ballina continues to get closer to the top – like Castlebar. This is Ballina’s best result since IBAL Anti-Litter League began 11 years ago. Eight out of the ten sites surveyed got the top litter grade. The train station and all four approach roads set a very high standard. In the majority of the sites it wasn’t just the lack of litter but the overall presentation and maintenance of the sites, for example, St Oliver Plunkett School, St. Mary’s Secondary School and Amana residential estate.”
Dr Tom Kavanagh, IBAL’s chairman, congratulated both towns for coming fourth and ninth in the national survey, which rated the towns according to the criteria of: ‘Cleaner than European Norms’.
Established in 1996, IBAL is an alliance of companies committed to the belief that litter has an impact on economic development. It states that it is the job of local government to resolve litter problems by proactively enforcing the litter laws.
Cavan town came first in the league while Dublin Airport Environs was deemed a litter black-spot.
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