Council recruiting hand-picker of litter at three Athlone-area sites

Westmeath County Council is in the process of recruiting a contractor to carry out litter collection by hand at three sites in the Athlone area in early November.

The local authority recently issued an invitation to tender for the litter picking project.

The work is due to take place at an area to the rear of the Battery Heights estate in Athlone; at Glenwood bog in Fardrum; and at Reynawn bog, near Ballinahown.

The tendering documents pointed out that that the Glenwood and Reynawn bogs were both special areas of conservation and, as a result, certain conditions needed to be followed when carrying out the work.

All litter removal must be carried out by hand, with the use of heavy machinery such as tractors or excavators not allowed.

The council added that the work would be happening outside of the bird nesting season, and that no trees could be uprooted as a result of the project.

The deadline for contractors to apply is at 4pm on Wednesday next, with the contract then due to be awarded on Monday, November 1.

"The successful applicant, upon appointment, will be required to complete the works by November 10, 2021," the council stated.