'Lot of excellence': Longford regains 'Clean' status with very positive IBAL results
The top ranking sites were the residential area of Teffia Park and the area between the N4 Axis Centre and the N4 from Padraic Colum Roundabout direction
Longford Town has improved again in relation to tidiness and cleanliness with a 'lot of excellence' highlighted and moved up to 14th place out of 40 towns and cities surveyed nationwide.
The latest June quarterly results by IBAL (Irish Business Against Litter) was based on reports by An Taisce inspectors who carried out the assessment.
They listed top ranking sites as the residential area of Teffia Park, the N4 Axis Centre and the N4 from Padraic Colum Roundabout direction, the latter was described as being particularly freshly presented and maintained.
The report highlighted both pristine locations and problem areas in the town.
The R198 from Main Street to N4 Axis centre route received glowing praise and it was described as being in very good order and creating a welcoming and very positive first impression of Longford.
The area was also said to have appeared well attended.
The majority of the busy Ballymahon Street was described as being good with regards to litter, but there were some items at the entrance to a vacant property such as cardboard boxes that were referred to.
Longford Railway Station was also commended with inspectors noting that mot much effort is required for this site to get the top litter grade.
However, they said old and recent litter along some parts of the railway track bring down an otherwise tidy and well presented environment.
The inspectors noted that litter bins were in particularly good order.
The nature of the footpath was such that chewing gum was particularly obvious.
The most heavily littered site surveyed by a considerable distance was Little Water Street where items including pallets, builders’ rubble and a broken wooden fence were strewn.
The An Taisce inspectors said there was a nice use of on-street planters and floral arrangements along the Main Street.
The most obvious litter items found there were cigarette butts, with lower levels of dog fouling, sweet papers, chewing gum and shopping receipts.
Longford TidyTowns chairperson Michael Keenan praised the TidyTowns volunteers, businesses and all the council and contracting services for working together and the notable increase in the number of businesses that connect to improve the IBALranking.
"We are quite pleased by the results. Longford has regained its status as clean to European norms and it is one of our strongest IBAL results in recent years.
"The report shows a lot of excellence right across the card.
"It does identify on location Little Water Street that severely needs attention. This area needs attention, to prevent further deterioration but overall the latest IBAL report reflects a high standard across the town.”
Michael stated there has been 'significant improvement' thanks to the collaboration between Longford TidyTowns and the Men's Shed on Little Water Street.
He said they are delighted with the progress that has been made in recent years and continuous improvements are being sought.
"I expect our TidyTowns performance to increase again this year."
Fiona Fenelon, the president of Longford Chamber of Commerce said the results were very encouraging.
"We have regained our clean status and we have come up from the 22nd position.
"We've risen up eight places on the scale which is really positive and of course there is always room for improvements.
“I guess from a Chamber of Commerce point of view all of these things are positive because it's in our interest and everybody's interest to have Longford looking as good as it can look.
"I think you can see Longford Tidy Towns are very active and very visible and they are out there on a very regular basis rain, hail and shine twelve months of the year on a weekly basis and numerous days every week.
"So I think it's really good, I think there's definitely an onus on us all, on everybody that we should try and support them and do our best."
Longford has made significant gains compared to two years ago when it ranked a lowly 35th out of 40 towns and cities surveyed.
Roscommon moved up one place on the list to 10th, while Mullingar and Athlone retained their ‘clean’ status and were placed in 15th spot and 24th place respectively.