Ten year plan

Castlebar could challenge for Tidy Towns honours in ten years - Mayor

Michael Duffy

Castlebar could have to wait a decade to match Westport for tidiness, according to Castlebar’s Mayor.
Westport has had huge success in the Tidy Towns competition, being crowned champions twice in five years, but the Mayor of Castlebar, Cllr Brendan Heneghan, feels the county town of Castlebar will have to wait at least ten years before harbouring notions of winning Tidy Town’s highest accolade.
Before a large gathering at the annual Castlebar Tidy Towns Awards in the TF Royal Hotel he said that with everyone pulling in the right direction serious improvement could be achieved.
“If anyone has any doubt about civic or community spirit in Castlebar it’s a pity that they aren’t here tonight. Schools, housing estates, business and industry have all responded magnificently to the tidy towns theme and your presence here tonight is the best vote of confidence the tidy towns committee can get,” stated Cllr Heneghan.
Castlebar performed relatively well this year on the new marking scheme compared to other towns in its category but performed badly on litter management and the town river was deemed ‘a black spot’ by the judges.
However, Cllr Heneghan pointed out that judging was done on Connacht Final Sunday which would be one of the busiest days of the year. He also pledged town council support for Tidy Towns Initiatives.
“We hope to purchase an automated street sweeper to help in the battle against litter similar to what many large towns and corporations have. If this is successful we can purchase more into the future as the town grows. In fairness to the staff of our council the town is spotless every morning and a mechanical sweeper will be money well spent if it keeps the streets of the town cleaner.”
In relation to the town river, Cllr Heneghan said he had asked for a river management plan to be put in place when he became Mayor in July and he had since met with the Fisheries Board  and the Office of Public Works, receiving a commitment from both to help enhance and keep the river clean.