IBAL Results for Leixlip - 2008 Part 2
Leixlip has been awarded 23rd position in 2nd round of the 2008 league results out today ....
IBAL RESULTS, AUGUST 2008 SURVEY:
“IBAL’s experience is that once a town achieves litter-free status for 2-3 years, it tends to stay clean. The citizens drop less litter in a clean town, cleaning costs tend to reduce rather than increase, therefore, this is not a cost issue.” – Dr Tom Cavanagh, chairman of IBAL.This gem of information came out in the media release (20/10/2008) from IBAL - Irish Business Against Litter. The message for us is,: get the place cleaned up for a few years and thereafter it will stay right and at lower cost!
LTTA is pleased is very happy that Leixlip has retained its “Up to European Standards of Cleanliness” in IBAL’s first every Summer test, However, in comparison to the 55 towns in this appraisal, Leixlip has slipped from 13th to 23rd place and the same old complaints are coming from the judges: the approach roads are in a sorry, littered state. Only the Dublin approach road is praised for being in a clean state. We know why that is: because one of us cleans it weekly. It takes one person less than an hour to do the half-mile stretch of road. Most of the other approach roads are not being cleansed of litter by Kildare County Council or are done sporadically and clearly not often enough. It is the same throughout the county and beyond.
While KCC’s budget is increasing year on year (now over €300 million), and staff numbers have almost doubled in the past twenty years, the budget for street cleansing, essentially a notional figure, is stuck at 1.55 million euros for the past few years. That’s a cut-back in real money. Conscientious road-cleaners are still stuck in the 19th century with barrow, broom and shovel. They could do far more with proper vacuum cleaning equipment for the same money, if the County Manager had a mind to do it. If it’s an industrial relations’ thing, then we say, let it be said in the open instead of been frozen in time.
Street Furniture
IBAL repeats its criticism about dirty street furniture, of which we heard last year. It is disheartening for volunteers to hear of the same complaints all of the time. It doesn’t reflect well on the town’s management. The Town Council, while not the cleansing authority, has taken on the role of keeping them clean and painted when required out of their €300,000 odd budget.
We recognise that there is an element of luck on the day or days the judges call on a town, and that on this, as on the last, occasion the state of approach roads was given special emphasis; nevertheless successive surveys show that Athy apart, the other Kildare towns surveyed are maintaining a good state of cleanliness compared to the EU norms. But other towns in the country are improving at a faster rate that Kildare towns according to the latest IBAL’s survey.
Taking the five Kildare towns in IBAL’s scheme the following changes have occurred in their ranking compared to the other 53 - 55 towns and cities in each appraisal:
Town April 07 April 08 August 08
Athy 31 42 48
Leixlip 37 13 23
Maynooth 46 32 22
Naas 39 29 21
Newbridge 50 14 32
AVERAGE OF 5 TOWNS: 41 26 29
Favourable Mentions
The Association is pleased with the favourable mentions of several places in the town and congratulate those responsible:
IBAL RESULTS FOR LEIXLIP, AUGUST 2008 SURVEY
Leixlip: 23rd cleanest out of 55 towns & cities surveyed. Another good result.
Half of the sites surveyed in Leixlip were clean and well presented, e.g. Scoil Cearbhaill Uí Dhálaigh - inside and outside; Louisa Bridge apartments and Louisa Bridge Railway Station – inside; and the Dublin approach road.
The remaining approach roads all had moderate levels of litter – a more thorough approach to cleaning could make a big difference along the old Maynooth approach road.
With a little extra effort at Oaklawn West it could easily get the top litter grade.
Overall improvements were noted at Confey approach road and Main Street.
Old Maynooth Approach Road: Moderately Littered. A small amount of food related litter was present along this busy route – a more thorough approach to cleaning could easily address this.
Louisa Bridge Railway Station – Outside: Moderately Littered. Much of the litter at this site emanated from the bus stop close by – the provision of more litter bins may help.
Louisa Bridge Railway Station – Inside: Clean to European Norms. Clearly the station staff are very attentive – this was a very well presented environment – clean, clear of litter and well maintained.
Oaklawn West: Moderately Littered. This site just missed getting the top litter grade – a small scattering of cigarette packets and fast-food wrappers took away from an otherwise well presented site.
Louisa Bridge Apartments: Clean to European Norms. A spotless, new development which was in excellent condition. Hopefully high standards can be maintained.
ScoilCearbhaill Ui Dhálaigh: Inside and Outside: Clean to European Norms. Playing grounds, car park and extensive area were all clear of litter – a very good site. Clearly it is well cared for and well respected.
Confey Approach Road: Moderately Littered. Overall there has been some improvement along this approach road into Leixlip – the bins and benches were in good condition. However, cigarette butts were very prevalent at the base of the benches at Captain’s Hill.
Main Street: Moderately Littered. Another site which has generally improved – but some of the litter bins could be cleaned up. With a little extra effort it could get the top litter grade. Cigarette butts need to be tackled.
Dublin Approach Road: Clean to European Norms. This route into Leixlip created a very positive first impression of the town. The approach was clean, clear of litter and well maintained.
20/10/2008