Overflowing litter bins a problem in Burgess Park

For the second time in three weeks - and at the height of the tourist season - one of our eagle-eyed readers spotted yet more overflowing rubbish bins in Burgess Park over the weekend!

The same reader, who does not wish to be named, supplied us with photos taken on the weekend of July 13 and 14 last which showed a number of plastic bags filled with rubbish left alongside public litter bins in Burgess Park which were overflowing with rubbish.

The most recent picture, taken on Saturday last, July 27, unfortunately tells the same story, and shows a large number of rubbish-filled plastic bags left alongside an overflowing litter bin in Burgess Park which is clearly visible to tourists approaching Athlone on the Shannon river.

The number of public litter bins in Athlone has been reduced in recent times, following consultation between Athlone Municipal District and the Athlone Tidy Towns organisation. However, concerns have been expressed by many civic-minded citizens about the difficulties they are experiencing in trying to find litter bins around the town which are not already full to the brim with rubbish, particularly at weekends.

Manager of Athlone-Moate Municipal District, Jackie Finney, confirmed to the Westmeath Independent recently that all litter bins in the urban centre of Athlone, including Burgess Park, are emptied daily, Monday to Friday, and also on Sundays.

She acknowledged that the recent spell of good weather has attracted “greater numbers than usual” to Burgess Park and other outdoor amenity areas, and said the Council would be keeping the issue of litter bins “under review.”

However, Ms. Finney urged people to bring their rubbish home with them, where possible. “We would encourage people to bring their rubbish away, to 'leave no trace' and we will continue to keep this issue under review to try to ensure that the bin collections match the level of usage in these areas” she said.