Two Tullamore sites "exceptionally well presented" in latest IBAL litter survey
Two sites in Tullamore were described as "exceptionally well presented and maintained" in the final survey of 2021 carried out by the Irish Business Against Litter League (IBAL).
The two sites were O'Connor Square and its associated car parking, which was found to be "spotless throughout" and the judges also found the entire Tullamore Town Park to be "spotless" and "very attractively laid out and maintained."
Tullamore was ranked at number 20 out of the 40 towns and cities surveyed for the latest IBAL survey, which was a drop of eight points from the last survey in October, when it was ranked at number 12.
Overall, the IBAL survey proved to a clean sweep for towns right across the Midlands with Portlaoise taking the runner-up spot in the ranking of 40 towns and cities, just behind Naas, and Tullamore, Mullingar and Athlone all retaining their status as being "clean to European norms."
While O'Connor Square and Tullamore Town Park were singled out as being "spotless" in the latest IBAL report, there was strong criticism for the Bring Centre on the Daingean Road which was described as being "by far the most heavily littered site in Tullamore." The judges found that it was not just casually littered but there was "significant dumping between the grey ‘clear glass’ recycle unit and the brick wall and that other loose items were "scattered to the front of the units."
Similarly, the judges found that the Meath Lane area of Tullamore "presented poorly" not just with regard to litter, but they found the area "heavily weeded, graffiti presence and the discarding of various miscellaneous items e.g., broken wooden pallet, builders’ rubble and general debris" and said it was "well on its way to being a Grade D if not tackled."
Other sites in Tullamore which were praised for their appearance in the survey included Colmcille Street, Patrick Street and the Bridge Shopping Centre.
This is the the 19th year of the IBAL Anti-Litter League, which is an alliance of companies sharing a belief that continued economic prosperity - notably in the areas of tourism, food and direct foreign investment - is contingent on a clean, litter-free environment.
As part of the IBAL Anti-Litter League, An Taisce monitors towns independently and in accordance with international grading standards.