Tallaght disappoints in IBAL litter survey

In the latest survey, the findings of which were released on Monday, Tallaght was listed as being “moderately littered”, with the carpark at Tallaght District Court and the pedestrian access to Cheeverstown Road from Kilmartin Drive being highlighted as areas of particular concern.

These two areas received the lowest rating – Grade D – with the carpark being described as being impacted by both littering and dumping, and it was noted that “amongst the parked cars the weed growth was heavy and high with litter riddled in between”.

The pedestrian access to Cheeverstown Road from Kilmartin Drive was found to be the subject of “serious neglect”, with the person who carried out the survey stating that “it wasn’t just littered, but subject to dumping [too] . . . the whole area was in a shocking state.”

However, four locations received a Grade A rating and were commended for their cleanliness, including Tallaght village, the recycling facility at The Square, Katharine Tynan Road and Sean Walsh Park.

Grade B was awarded to Kilmartin Estate, however the location “could be a Grade A with better care by some residents,” according to the person who carried out the survey.

The pedestrian bridge at Tallaght Bypass, from Sean Walsh Park to The Square, received a B grade, as “loose litter was scattered along the bridge”, but the area underneath the bridge was clean.

The environs of Tallaght Library and Alexander House was the only location that received Grade C, as even though the built environment was “freshly presented”, this was let down by “heavy levels of litter – even within the immediate vicinity of litter bins.”

Summing up the survey, the An Taisce representative stated in their report on litter in the area that: “After making big strides over the last number of years in the League it was disappointing to see two litter blackspots and one seriously littered site take Tallaght down the rankings.

“Pedestrian access to Cheeverstown Road, from Kilmartin Drive has suffered from prolonged and serious abuse and neglect.

“Courthouse Square Car Park wasn’t just casually littered, but a variety of items had been discarded, including pallets and bags of rubbish.

“However, half of the sites surveyed did get the top litter grade – some worth noting were the Tallaght Luas Stop, Tallaght village and Sean Walsh Memorial Park.”

The survey was carried out by representatives from An Taisce, who monitored the surveyed towns independently and in accordance with international grading standards as part of the IBAL Anti-Litter League.