Crisis averted

Castlebar’s Tidy Towns committee avoids crisis

Áine Ryan

CASTLEBAR Tidy Towns Committee last weekend stepped back from the brink of dissolution and avoided ‘a crisis point’ after holding an emergency meeting in the Traveller’s Friend Hotel. The meeting attracted around 20 new members, with the recently-appointed Town Manager, Mr Seamus Granahan also in attendance.
The meeting was effectively convened as a last-ditch call by the long-time committee, many of whose members had been in situ for the 14 years of its life-span.
“We are now making a final appeal to the people of Castlebar to show a better interest with a greater input if the Castlebar Tidy Towns Committee is to remain in existence, and desist from dissolving or disbanding,” the outgoing committee had warned a week ago.
Reportedly, last weekend’s meeting brought a positive response across the board, with Mr Granahan making a commitment that the Council ‘will fund the auditing and evaluation of the town in order to structure a four-year plan to shape required improvements’.  
“We are very heartened by last week’s turnout which has put a new vigour in the committee. The outgoing committee were the founders 14 years ago and are all stepping down,” said Mr Ger Deere, who will remain during a transition period.
Support was also offered by the Chamber of Commerce, the Lions Club, Rotary Club, and a number of residents’ associations
An appeal was also made to residents’ associations to organise a clean-up in their own area each Monday night during April,  as part of the National Spring Clean programme. It was proposed that each group should  meet at 7pm.
Groups can contact the Environment Section of Mayo County Council on 094 9024444 for gloves, bags, litter pickers, high visibility vests.
The next meeting of the Tidy Towns committee will take place on Monday, April 21, next at 8.30pm in the TF Hotel.