Portlaoise has been classed as ‘clean to European norms’ with a respectable mid-table finish of 19th out of 40 towns in the IBAL anti-litter league.
A report on the town, notes Portlaoise has maintained the improvement shown in recent surveys.
“Very good sites included the Main Street, Church Street and Donaghmore Famine Workhouse Museum – the latter was particularly sensitively restored. These sites were not just clear of litter but well presented and maintained,” the adjudicator said.
However, it wasn’t all good news.
“By far the most heavily littered site in Portlaoise was the Recycle Facility at Motor Tax Office – it wasn’t just casually littered but bags of rubbish had been discarded at the
base of the units,” the judge said. It was given a grade C ranking.
There was also a mixed report for Portlaoise Train Station – “Exterior: Grade B. There were scatterings of food related litter at this very quaint Victorian style train station. A couple of planter boxes at the entrance added a splash of colour to the expanse of car parking, wall and station building”.
The interior of the station was classed grade A, however.
“ All was in very good order within Portlaoise Train Station – it was neat, tidy and freshly presented. There was a complete absence of litter throughout”.
Positive
Church Street was also classed as grade A – “The paving, bollards, road surface and markings created a positive impression along this quite old street. The area was devoid of litter”.
Main Street also got a grade A ranking – “The wide paving and attractive brickwork created a great sense of spacealong the Main Street. Many of the individual shops were brightly coloured and there was plenty of abundant hanging baskets throughout. All aspects were in good order”.
Similarly, Donaghmore Famine Workhouse Museum received the same grading.
“The entrance, general environs and grounds of this museum were completely clear of all litter. The stone building and associated buildings have been carefully restored with great attention to detail on the windows,” the judge noted.
The most damning comments were in connection to the Recycle Facility near the Motor Tax Office.
“This was a poor site and by far the lowest ranking of those surveyed for IBAL. There was extensive clear and clean signage with regard to use of same.
“The recycle units at this facility are on wheels i.e. not flush with the ground, thus allowing accumulations of litter beneath the bins. Bags of rubbish had also been discarded at the base of the units”.
Fitzmaurice Place came in for praise, though.
Lovely feature
“The Amphitheatre seating area within this open space is a lovely feature of Portlaoise. It was freshly presented and maintained,” the judge said.
A ‘derelict premises’ on road to station was another site classed as grade B.
“This substantial Georgian residential property has clearly been vacant for some considerable time. The windows are boarded up, gate has lock and chain and the area has two larges notices relating to ‘entrants’ to the property and litter. Given the nature of this property litter has accumulated, the level was such that it was veering towards a seriously littered site”.
The N80 and R445 roads were also praised for their tidy appearance.
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