Call for action to deal with 'the worst litter blackspot' in Tipperary's largest town

The area outside of Clonmel’s railway and bus station has been described as “the worst litter blackspot in the town”.

Cllr Michael Murphy also told a meeting of Clonmel Borough District that this was a real eyesore on the town, despite the outstanding work of volunteers, who included Cllr Pat English, to keep the place tidy.

The litter bins in that location had been removed.

Cllr Murphy appealed to District Manager Sinead Carr to intervene with Irish Rail.

Cllr English said that both bins in the area had been taken away by Irish Rail and should be returned.

District Mayor Richie Molloy said that when passengers disembark from a bus or a train in Clonmel they are “greeted with that”.

He and the other council members said that Clonmel did very well in the recent Irish Business Against Litter (IBAL) survey, when it was ranked sixth in the list of 40 towns and cities surveyed nationwide.

Cllr Molloy said that whether they liked it or not the onus was on the local authority, and he asked if Irish Rail could be prosecuted for the litter that accumulated in that area.

He said that this issue had been raised at a meeting of the recently-formed Clonmel Town Team, as had the absence of toilets at the railway and bus station.

Cllr Molloy said there had also been complaints about litter in Upper Irishtown in Clonmel, and he asked if a big belly bin could be provided there.

There seemed to be fewer bins available in the town now than there were six months ago, he added.

District Manager Sinead Carr said it was difficult enough to try and maintain public spaces and keep them litter-free.

She said that this area was the property of Irish Rail, who would be contacted by Tipperary County Council.

The Borough District would also work with the council’s environment section and see if the area could be maintained in the appropriate manner.