Dog-fouling and food-related litter see Buncrana slip in litter rankings

Dog-fouling and food-related littering have contributed to Buncrana being downgraded in the latest Irish Business Against Litter (Ibal) survey.

The town has been ranked 27th out of 40 towns and cities surveyed and has been categorised as moderately littered. Buncrana was deemed clean when previously surveyed in 2021.

Buncrana was named Donegal's tidiest town at last year’s SuperValu Tidy Towns Awards, beating  Letterkenny to the title by a point.

The An Taisce’s Ibal report on the town found that there were just four sites out of ten which got the top litter grade.

The report found that if some of the many moderately littered sites were improved, this could improve Buncrana’s overall ranking.

An Tasice said it was disappointing that the town’s  ‘Historical Quarter’ scored poorly, primarily (but not solely) due to the very significant levels of dog fouling.

Four areas that were surveyed were given Grade A. The Milltown Approach Road was described as in good order with no visible litter issues and “the overall impression was a clean, tidy and welcoming one”.

The Muff Road/Hill Head Road, was described as “excellent with regards to litter” and “creating a welcoming approach to the town”. 

The deposit return scheme at Aldi, “a ‘stand-alone’ feature, located within the car park”, was “very much deserving of the top litter grade”. 

The report found St Mura’s School to be in good order with no visible litter.

Railway Road was found to be “attractive” with the ‘Welcome to Buncrana’ sign and colourful planting. While the hedges and  planting were well tended “there were too many food-related items for the top litter grade”.

In Millfield Crescent and Grove, the individual properties were well-tended, clean and tidy.

The wooden picnic table was described as “a lovely feature”. The report found the residential area of Millfield Crescent / Grove “was let down by a variety of food-related items”. 

The Buncrana Shopping Centre gave a good general impression with the planted shrubbery a welcome feature. Litter was to be found and “ a more thorough approach to cleaning could easily rectify this.

The town’s Main Street was given a grade B and praised for the good condition of the wide paving, seating, tree planting, colourful flower pots, bollards, and street lamps. Well-tended properties contributed to a welcoming overall impression. But the report found  there were “too many food-related items, cigarette butts and dog fouling for the top litter grade. 

The town’s ‘Historical Quarter’ was given a grade C with signage for “Discover Buncrana’s Historical Quarter”  in good condition. Colourful planter boxes and a mini bee garden were also praised.

“Much of the area presented well but there was a very heavy dog fouling presence, very much ruining the enjoyment for many,” the report found. Food-related litter was also found.

The town’s ferry port was also graded C. An Taisce said colourful visitor information signage was in good condition and much of the port environment presented well, with a colourful wall mural. 

“The area was let down by the accumulations of debris/litter associated with some boat works.”