12 September 2013 swords gazette 5
good news Swords ‘cleaner than European norms’
Results give town a clean bill of health natalie burke
Volunteers within the Swords community were greeted with good news last week after the town was declared “cleaner than European norms” in the most recent IBAL anti-litter league results. Nearby Dublin Airport and its environs were also classed in the results, being described as “clean to European norms”. Following the release of the results, judges stated that it was “another satisfactory result for Swords”, after they ruled that there were eight top class sites in the area and two bad sites. The judges commented: “All three approach roads into Swords got the top litter grade and other top ranking sites included Carnegie Court Hotel, Pavilions Shopping Centre and Lidl – the latter was particularly nicely laid out with attractive paving in the car park.” In the case of the two “bad sites” referred to in the judges’ comments, they stated: “The river walk doesn’t seem to get the same level of attention as other sites in Swords. The recycle facility beside Fingal County Council Environment was also in a poor state – the overall appearance was very grubby and the area to the rear of the recycle bins was riddled with rubbish.” The results were welcomed by Fingal County Council, which found the recent survey reported “very positively” on both Swords and the Dublin Airport environs areas within Fingal. “Swords scored particularly well,” said a spokesperson for the council, who mentioned in particular the eight top-class rated sites. “The two [low-rated] areas, the recycle facility at Watery Lane and also the riverwalk, were heav-
ily littered and will require attention to bring them up to standard.” In relation to Dublin Airport, the judges’ comments noted a “significant improvement” at a couple of sites. “The Dublin Road from Cloghran Roundabout to Airport Roundabout was a top ranking site. This time around the Swords Road, from Collinstown entrance to Turnapin Lane, was cleaner than previously but still somewhat littered. “Those sites directly
attached to Dublin Airport were not just clear of litter but exceptionally well presented and maintained. The R108 Naul Road from M50 to Collinstown Lane was the only bad site.” The spokesperson for the council said they acknowledge “all the hard work many organisations and groups put in to keeping their town clean and litter-free”. Irish Business Against Litter is an alliance of companies sharing a belief that continued economic
prosperity – notably in the areas of tourism, food and direct foreign investment – is contingent on a clean, litter-free environment. As part of the IBAL anti-litter league, An Taisce monitors towns of population 6,000 and over, independently and in accordance with international standards. The programme is run in conjunction with the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government. Visit www.ibal.ie for further information.