Local Fianna Fáil councillor, Aengus O’Rourke, has called on the council to invest in motorised street cleaning equipment for Athlone.
Commenting on the state of Church Street in particular, Cllr O’Rourke says it is time to invest in modern and practical equipment to ensure Athlone is presented in its best light.
“At the moment the council sends a member of staff out with a sweeping brush, shovel, and wheelbarrow. That is not how you clean streets in this day and age,” he said.
“We all spent time on the streets during the Big Clean on Good Friday, myself on one side of Church Street and Cllr Michael O’Brien on the other side, and there were literally thousands of cigarette butts, matchsticks, and pieces of rubbish on the footpath.
“This type of litter cannot be cleaned with a shovel and wheelbarrow. We need the proper automated equipment that has the brushes, washing facilities and suction capabilities. It gets into all the crevasses and corners, is safer, quicker, and more effective. It is a no-brainer that this is what we need in terms of cleaning the streets.
“While I am told the money is not there at the moment, I have received support from the council on the issue, and the hope is that this equipment will be in place in 2018.”
