Tullamore footpaths covered in orange, blue and white numbers

The number of orange, blue and white markings on footpaths around Tullamore has become a source of annoyance for many locals.
The ''graffiti'' as it was described at the September meeting of Tullamore Municipal District is the responsibility of Uisce Eireann.

''Will the town be dug up before Christmas or around Christmas time''? Asked Cathaoirleach Councillor Declan Harvey,

''Every councillor here is getting the same question, I didn't see any of the Irish Water lads around to ask them are they digging. I know they are doing soak holes, but the whole town is marked and our brand new footpaths and roads. I'm asking loud and clear is the town going to be dug up?''

Responding, Joe Dooley, Senior Executive Engineer with Offaly County Council said, ''the answer is no. Those works are on foot of Irish water's plans for a new sewer through the town. We don't know their strict timeline for the sewer and rehab works, but we have gone to great lengths to liaise with Irish Water.''

Mr Dooley went on to say the markings were intended to be for slit trenches. ''But we fought back and we haven't allowed it. We have managed to reduce the number of slit trenches by as much as 80% because we had records going back over the years. It was disappointing to see the way they graffitied our town the way they did. I would believe as an engineer there was no need for it. They could have done it digitally without having to do what they did.''

Mr Dooley assured members that the markings ''will wash away.'' If they don't, he said the council will address the issue.

''It is to establish a route for the new sewers. It's all part of the design procedure. I think we are some way off a sewer line but we will deal with it when the time comes and there will be appropriate rehabilitation of the footpaths and road reinstatement in accordance with the guidelines that are there,'' he added.

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''Uisce Eireann, turned the town into a graffiti town,'' said Councillor Sean O'Brien. ''It's ridiculous everwhere you turn there are three or four different colours at every manhole. We should be ensuring that when they are finished that it is cleaned industrially. We have lovely new streets, new paths, new everything. We want to ensure it's properly done. Cllr Shane Murray and myself are involved in tidy towns, it shouldn't be our job to clean it up. It has to be done properly. There are a lot of people commenting on it,'' he added.

Cllr O'Brien also went on to speak about general staining on the footpaths especially noticeable during dry weather. He suggested the council liaise with the shop owners adding that there is an onus on businesses to clean 50 metres outside their premises.''We need to work with take-aways and similar businesses'' he said.