Footpaths in Tullamore in 'a terrible way'

THE filthy condition of the footpaths in Tullamore was a matter of concern at the June meeting of Tullamore Municipal District.

The newly elected Cathaoirleach, Councillor Declan Harvey said, ''this is one that is going around at the moment and everybody is on about it... the cleaning of the paths. They are absolutely in a terrible way, in O'Connor Square and down the town. I know the weather has been good, but if you can get the lads out maybe they would give them a quick clean,'' he said

Councillor Sean O'Brien, who is also a member of the Tullamore Tidy Towns committee, agreed.

''They are getting very dirty looking. There are different factors. On Colmcille Street it looks like one of the restaurants is dragging bags out which are leaking. It's the same in O'Connor Square we need to engage with these people,'' he said.

At one time he said there was great cooperation between businesses and they cleaned outside their premises.

''They need to accept responsibility,'' he added.

Councillor Neil Feighery said he had been in Dublin last week and in different areas where ''councils have massive budgets for street cleaners.'' Still there was ''staining on Stephen's Green and Grafton street. It comes down again to people just throwing litter on the ground.''

Responding Senior Executive Engineer John Connelly said, ''to be honest when you have a long period of dry weather it happens every time. As soon as there is a shower of rain it will clean. We don't have the resources to start power washing the whole town. The rain will deal with a lot of it,'' he assured.

Senior Executive Officer Jean Ryan said they might look at issuing some letters to businesses in cooperation with the Chamber of Commerce. She said it had been done before and ''things did improve. We might look at that again,'' she said.