Cork city must combat ‘litter blackspot’

CORK city has been branded a litter blackspot in the latest survey results announced by Irish Business Against Litter (IBAL) — and the city council is not doing enough to counteract it.

In the most recent results in the 2003 Anti-Litter League, conducted by An Taisce on behalf of IBAL, Cork received a rating of 59 points which puts it squarely in the blackspot category, along with eight other areas in the nationwide study.

Local authorities here have given a mixed response to IBAL’s campaign: some see the economic importance of a clean environment, others do not and so do as little as possible.

Cork City Council is one of those which Dr Tom Cavanagh, chairman of IBAL, is critical of.

“It could do better, and if Cork is a litter blackspot, then it’s obvious they are not doing enough. Their efforts can be measured by the results of the survey.”

The city is now merely a through-way for tourists going to West Cork or Kerry, whereas it could have a tourist product if it presented itself as a clean and bright place in which people could be encouraged to stop-over for a day or two, he said.

Tom Cavanagh maintains that people are so used to litter, they actually do not see it on the streets.

Having come from an emerging country twenty-five years ago, when income was seriously below the European average, to a country which is now above that, Ireland is now on a par growth-wise with the US.

“In this year and next year our growth rates are forecast at higher than the average in the EU and in the UK and will be level, or similar to, that of the US,” he said.

But, he points out, Ireland is a high-cost country, and people expect different standards than were accepted years ago.

“If we are going to continue our growth rate and success, we must adopt standards of our equals, such as the US,” said Dr Cavanagh.

While the country is now a wealthy one, Ireland was still in a catch-up situation in areas like infrastructure, where there is a backlog. Another backlog is that in relation to cleaning up.

While the survey revealed a three per cent improvement in litter levels nationwide since the previous study in June, the average rating in major urban centres deteriorated.

Cavan again emerged as the cleanest town, with Kilrush, Kilkenny and Fermoy also achieving litter-free status in the study which confirmed chewing gum as one of the most common forms of litter on our streets.

The survey of 30 cities and towns produced an average litter rating of 63 points, denoting a ‘serious litter problem’ in the country as a whole. Just under half of the areas surveyed fell into this category.

The litter inspections took place at weekends during the month of July, at the height of the tourist season. IBAL contends that weekend cleaning is essential, as this is when towns and cities are most enjoyed by locals and tourists alike.

According to Dr Cavanagh, European cities can manage to stay clean seven days a week, 365 days a year.

“There is no reason why Irish towns cannot maintain the same level of cleanliness. Our reliance on tourism demands it. It is vital that we show our best front when our towns are on show to large volumes of visitors,” he said.

No spokesman for Cork City Council was available for comment.