Mayo County Council is calling on people who live in Mayo and those who are visiting the county to help ‘Keep Mayo Wild and Beautiful’.
This Public Awareness campaign aims to ensure that residents and visitors to Mayo play their part in keeping this county clean and green.
Over the last number of months, the council has prepared and implemented measures to assist in the outdoor summer that everyone can enjoy. Increased litter control measures are in place in locations all around the county, including additional bins and additional collections.
Public toilet facilities at blue flag beaches and amenity areas are open, with additional portable toilets in place in many visitor locations.
Lifeguards are on duty at beaches Carrowniskey, Carrowmore, Old Head, Bertra, Ross, Keem, Keel, Silver Strand (Dugort ), Mulranny and at Belmullet Tidal Pool. The Municipal District Offices continue to work closely and creatively with hospitality businesses to provide outdoor dining facilities in public realm spaces in towns and villages.
Mayo County Council will continue to implement measures over the summer months to enhance the visitor experience, and states: "However, we cannot do it on our own. Individuals playing their part will go a long way to keeping our public parks, beaches and outdoor spaces clean and available."
'Keep Mayo Wild and Beautiful' is a call to action for the public to play their part. The council is asking those who are visiting beaches, amenity areas and beauty spots and enjoying the outdoors, to take some simple actions to assist them, as follows: (1 ) Take home your litter after picnics and outdoor activity; (2 ) In busy periods litter bins and bottle banks fill up fast. If bins are full, take away all litter and dispose of it responsibly. Use an alternative facility for your bottles and cans; (4 ) Clean up after your pet and dispose of dog fouling properly; (5 ) Park responsibly at public amenities; (6 ) If you are visiting in your campervan this summer, ensure you plan ahead. It is illegal to park overnight at beaches. Local restrictions may apply to other public car parks and fines can be incurred; (7 ) Mayo hosts a treasure of beautiful coastal areas for you to enjoy, but always be considerate of nature by sticking to trails and walkways. Protect sand dunes by not trampling on them; (8 ) Restrictions may apply to the use of barbeques and campfires; if using a barbeque, keep it off the ground to avoid damaging vegetation and ensure it is fully extinguished after use; (9 ) Have a waste free day out! Many businesses welcome the use of reusable cups and are also happy to offer tap water refills.
The council concluded: "These simple actions, if applied individually, will help to ensure that this summer everyone can enjoy our beach and coastal environments in a safe way and that visitors to our world-class amenities will leave nothing behind but their footprints. Further tips can be found at www.mayo.ie/KeepMayoWildAndBeautiful "
Cathoirleach of Mayo County Council, Cllr Michael Smyth, welcomed the opportunity to promote this message, saying: "I am delighted as Cathaoirleach of Mayo County Council to get behind this campaign. We have so much to offer our visitors and those who live in the county so I would appeal to everyone to play their part in Keeping Mayo Wild and Beautiful."
Martin Keating, head of environment, Mayo County Council, added: "With summer upon us, we are all looking forward to enjoying the outdoors. At Mayo County Council we are working to ensure that visitors and locals alike are able to enjoy our open spaces as additional resources are put in place. We are calling on the public to embrace this campaign. The key to keeping our County Wild and Beautiful is that everyone plays their part."
