FERMOY SHINES THROUGH IN ANTI LITTER AWARDS
Fermoy is the most consistent town in the Irish Businesses Against Litter annual competition, according to competition judges who revealed the final 2008 league table this week.
Fermoy came second out of a total of 55 towns and cities in the competition, having finished third in 2007 and coming out as the winner in 2006. Howth was declared overall winner this year.
All 10 areas within Fermoy that were surveyed were judged to be clean to European norms, and Mayor of Fermoy Tadhg O’Donovan was delighted with the result.
“It is an honour and a privilege as mayor of Fermoy to receive second place in the national IBAL competition. My immediate thoughts turn to the commitment and leadership shown by Fermoy Tidy Towns committee and local town council and FAS staff whose efforts have been acknowledged,” he told The Avondhu.
Fermoy town councillor and chairman of the Fermoy Tidy Towns committee John Murphy paid tribute to all involved in securing the high mark.
“I want to thank all the people involved, the council staff, both administrative and outdoors, the residents associations, the FAS Community Scheme workers and everybody who contributed to the ongoing success in this competition here in Fermoy,” he said.
Cllr Murphy added that the judging format will change next year, taking local schools and pubs into account, and that the onus will be on the people of Fermoy to keep the high standard up in the next year. Local Tidy Towns competitions will soon take place”, he also revealed. Mayor O’Donovan said that the initiative has been a great success for IBAL and its chairman, Fermoy native Dr Tom Cavanagh.
“While Fermoy has been highly competitive since the inception of the IBAL competition this success to date should in no way distract from the primary purpose for which the IBAL put the league in place in 2002. Its main objective then and now is to ensure all cities and towns meet with European litter norm standards.
"From humble beginnings, with only a handful of towns meeting this objective 8 years ago, there is now in excess of two thirds, or 36 of 55 towns and cities throughout the country that have secured litter free standards to European norms. While Fermoy can be proud of this success, IBAL should take a bow for all it has achieved in the last 8 years,” Mayor O’Donovan said.
Dr Cavanagh, commenting after the IBAL results were announced, called on the Government to introduce a levy on chewing gum to offset the cost of cleaning gum from Irish streets and give manufacturers an incentive to produce biodegradable gum.
Published:
Thursday 8th January 5:42pm
