Ibal survey a welcome improvement for mullingar

• Athlone improves to above Europe average, while Mullingar and Portlaoise deemed ‘clean’

• Towns cleaner than ever but urban areas falter

• Connecting routes between towns generally in need of more attention

The latest survey by business group Irish Business Against Litter of 40 towns countrywide shows improvements in all midlands towns monitored.

Tullamore is up to 6th spot and is again deemed “Cleaner than European Norms”, as is Athlone in 12th position. Mullingar and Portlaoise have both shed their moderately littered status to be deemed "Clean to European norms”.

In all, 75% of towns and cities were found to be as clean as or cleaner than their European counterparts.

Kilkenny and Cavan were once again Ireland’s cleanest towns, and were among 18 towns to be deemed cleaner than the European average, including Tullamore and Athlone.

The An Taisce surveyors reported: “A great result for Tullamore, which has established itself as one of the cleanest towns in the country. It had eight top ranking sites. Surveyor noted significant improvements along Clara Approach Road – previous difficulties have been addressed and hopefully this can be sustained. The Harbour scored very well and the Main Street was nicely presented with wide paving and brightly painted shops.

“An excellent showing by Athlone, improving on its two previous results. Both approach roads got the top litter grade, creating a positive first impression of Athlone. The park beside Golden Island Shopping Centre was a wonderful amenity which was well presented and maintained. The Recycle Facility beside Golden Island Shopping Centre was in very good order and tidy throughout.”

“A welcome return to “Clean to European Norms” status for Portlaoise. Over half of the sites surveyed were top ranking but the presence of a litter blackspot brings down Portlaoise’s overall ranking. Some of the top ranking sites included the Main Street, People’s Park and Portlaoise Leisure Centre – these sites were not just clear of litter but well presented and maintained. The derelict site on Ballyfin Road was subjected to not just litter but dumping.”

“A welcome improvement for Mullingar which was moderately littered in the previous survey, which hopefully will spur the town to greater things. Over half the sites surveyed got the top litter grade but two seriously littered sites (at Mullingar Railway Station Exterior and Recycle Facility at Bennett Car Park) brought down the town’s overall ranking. Surveyor noted an improvement at Canalside Walk but it still has some way to go to become a top ranking site. The N52 Dundalk Approach Road and Athlone Approach Road were in very good condition.”

For the first time, IBAL inspected the cleanliness of connecting routes between towns, which were found to be typically more littered than the towns themselves. The Athlone – Tullamore Road was described as: “Excellent – very clean overall. Mud on the road outside the village of Tober on the Athlone side. Minor litter in one small area outside Athlone on N62 before car showrooms. The route is well maintained with freshly cut verges.”

“The positive impression that our clean towns create for visitors is all too quickly undone if they encounter litter when departing them. It is a natural evolution of IBAL’s survey that these routes be monitored,” says Conor Horgan.

The survey showed that while towns are getting cleaner, urban areas generally remain littered. IBAL contends that residents associations, tidy towns groups and other volunteers are compensating for the scarcity of resources in local authorities in many towns, whereas these groups are often absent in city areas. “A single tidy towns committee can make an enormous difference to the cleanliness of any given town,“ says Horgan. “In cities, communities tend to be less cohesive and relying on volunteers to clean up a large urban area is not feasible. However, establishing such groups has to be part of any urban authority’s plan in the current cost environment. It’s not just the physical work these groups carry out, it’s the sense of responsibility they create, which rubs off on the whole community. If people see their neighbours picking up litter, they are less likely to litter themselves.”

Alongside the need for councils to set up such local groups, IBAL is calling on Government to show similar initiative by involving businesses through a nationally coordinated Adopt A Road scheme.

The survey found that sweet papers were by far the most common form of litter, followed by cigarette butts, fast food wrappers and chewing gum. Most recycling areas were littered, with car parks and residential areas also more likely to be littered than other sites.