Ballina performs well in litter survey
SEVEN out of 10 sites surveyed for litter in Ballina achieved the top grade.
In the latest round of the Irish Business Against Litter (IBAL) Anti-Litter League, the town was 19th out of 40 towns/cities surveyed and was found to be clean to European norms.
The town did drop down six places from 13th on the previous round, despite adjudicators noting it was a 'good performance' for Ballina, with seven out of the 10 sites surveyed getting the top litter grade. Some examples of these included St. Patrick’s Well/Memorial, the residential area at The Spires, Dunnes Stores/Ballina Shopping Centre and various approach roads.
By far the most heavily littered site was the clothing recycle facility at Killala Road - it was subject to dumping. Pearse Street was also heavily littered.
The full report is as follows.
The Spires: Grade A. A very freshy presented and well-maintained residential environment with a virtual absence of litter throughout. Communal grass areas were in good order and the overall impression created here was a very positive one.
Killala Road: Grade A. Road surface, markings and signage were in good order and the overall impression was quite a good one. Care needs to be taken at the couple of apparently closed down/vacant premises that they don’t become a magnet for litter, as can so easily happen.
St. Patrick’s Well/Memorial: Grade A. A small but clean and very well maintained site with a complete absence of litter throughout. All elements were in very good order, except for a broken entrance gate which was hanging off a broken support wall. This is likely to deteriorate if not addressed.
Clothing recycle facility at Cost Cutter Shop, Killala Road: Grade D. The red bin units were freshly presented but the immediate environs were in a very poor state. As well as some bags of items at the base of the bin units there were heavy levels of a wide variety of litter right beside the units.
Discarded items included a suitcase and various other miscellaneous items. The adjoining site was not in good shape either.
St. Patrick’s Church: Grade B+. There was building work taking place at this site but the litter wasn’t directly beside the building works. Items of litter scattered on the grass included face-masks, plastic bags, fast-food wrappers and sweet papers. The litter took away from an otherwise very well presented and maintained environment.
St. Dymphna’s School and St. Nicholas School: Grade A. The school grounds were very much deserving of the top litter grade. A credit to the pupils, staff and those responsible for the maintenance of same.
Crossmolina approach road: Grade A. The sculpture and very freshly presented Gurteens Roundabout create a great first impression of Ballina. Paving appeared new and very clean. Road surface and markings were in excellent condition. There was a virtual absence of litter along this route.
Foxford approach road: Grade A. Not only was this road very good with regard to litter but the overall presentation of the properties was great as well. There were no litter issues of note.
Dunnes Stores/Ballina Shopping Centre: Grade A. The Ballina Shopping Centre bins were in very good condition, closed, small aperture and freshly presented. Clearly the shopping centre staff are very attentive as there was a complete absence of litter throughout.
Pearse Street: Grade C. A very disappointing grade for a main shopping street. The majority of the litter was food related (fast-food wrappers, coffee cups, cans, coffee cups etc) and was located at various seating areas. This all took away from an otherwise attractive streetscape - paving, 'olde’ style lamp-posts, ornamental trees, seating, bollards, etc.
The lower end of the street was less littered, close to the junction with Humbert Street.