Not content with a fourth place finish in this year’s Tidy Towns competition, Kilkenny Borough Council has vowed to pull out all the stops to secure the coveted top spot next year.
Although Kilkenny won the Tidiest Large Urban Centre award, it was Killarney in County Kerry that ran out overall competition winners. Borough council senior engineer Kieran Fitzgerald said that while it was a wonderful achievement for Kilkenny, more could still be done.
In this year’s Tidy Towns competition, Kilkenny lost marks in the ‘overall development approach’ category, but improved in the ‘waste minimisation’ category when compared to the previous year’s score.
In other categories, such as ‘built environment’ and ‘litter control’, this year’s marks were unchanged on those from 2010. However, in the ‘litter control’ category, Kilkenny is still some way behind its nearest immediate competitors, such as Ennis, and this year’s winners Killarney.
Unsurprisingly, the issue of combating litter and improving overall tidiness took centre stage in the council’s deliberations as to how best improve Kilkenny’s overall standing.
In his report, the Tidy Towns adjudicator was critical of litter control in certain areas, such as the Parade, the Fairgreen, and the steps at St Canice’s Place. Mr Fitzgerald noted that the last named area was particularly disappointing, as it is the first place to be cleaned each morning.
However Councillor Sean Ó hArgain said that the adjudicator’s criticism of the area, just on the edge of Irishtown, should come as no surprise.
“St Canice’s Place has become a bit of a menace,” he said.
“It is populated by a very undesirable group of people. I know that the fast food outlets there make an effort to combat litter, but it is consistently littered by a small group of people.”
Cllr Malcolm Noonan said that while Killarney had its national parks, Kilkenny had not fully realised its potential to pick up marks in the wildlife and biodiversity category.
“I think what we have in Kilkenny is equally as good,” he said.
“But a much more co-ordinated approach is required. A lot of work done out there is maybe going under the radar, we can really make a statement; so much is happening that is not given credit by the adjudicator.
“This has really become an environmental competition, not a Tidy Towns competition.”
Mr Fitzgerald set out a plan of suggested improvements for 2012.
The proposed measures include the emplacement of underground lighting on Patrick Street and William Street, the implementation of a new signage scheme, the completion of amenity improvements in John’s Green, improvement works in James’ Green, the adoption of a ‘street policy’, and a more concerted effort to engage second-level students on the subject of litter control.
Cllr Reidy welcomed the suggested improvements for the coming year.
“I think Mr Fitzgerald’s action plan is the way to go for next year,” he said.
“The standard seems to be raised every year, and we can be proud to have kept up the standard.”
