LIKE WICKLOW TOWN Arklow climbed up in the litter league this year and was classed as clean to European norms.

It was ranked in 26th position out of the 53 towns and cities surveyed which was a great achievement. The judges found that half of the sites surveyed in Arklow were very good. They were not just clear of litter and well presented and maintained and they singled out the Marina Village, Arklow Sports Centre and St. Joseph's National School as being particularly well presented.

Five sites in the town, the town centre, Dublin Approach Road, St. Joseph's National School, Arklow Sports Centre and the Marina Village, were classed as clean to European norms

The judges said the town centre was a 'very good site. There was a virtual absence of litter throughout but chewing gum was obvious on the footpath.'

The Dublin Approach Road including the Redcross Roundabout was also highly commended by the judges. 'This was a very fresh, clean and well maintained approach route into Arklow creating a positive first impression of the town.'

The work of the school children in St. Joseph's National School was also noted and praised. 'This was an excellent site. The Green Flag was flying and the ethos of the Green Flag was very much in evidence with a complete absence of litter throughout.'

The Arklow Sports Centre was another site classed as clean to European norms. The judges said, 'This is a very extensive site. All aspects of the environment were in very good condition and clear of litter.'

The final site deemed to be clean to European norms was the Marina Village. 'This was an absolutely spotless site,' said the judges. 'It was not just clear of litter but in immaculate condition.'

Some of the sites in the town didn't fare as well and work needs to be done to bring these sites up to scratch. The town bypass and the Wexford Approach Road were felt to be moderately littered by the judges. 'There was a very definite litter presence in numerous places along this approach road. The level of litter (old and new) was such that it could easily become a serious litter problem.'

The road from the Redcross Roundabout to Town Centre was also moderately littered. 'The stretch of road closer to the roundabout was far clearer than the stretch of road closer to the town. Much of the litter was food related such as fast food wrappers, cans, sweet papers.'

Another area that came in for criticism was the Civic Amenity Area. 'This was a well maintained open area but was let down by the alcohol related litter at the waters' edge including cans and bottles. Care needs to be taken as there was plenty of wild life in the background,' said the judges.

The Aldi site also came under fire and it too was moderately littered.

'This site just missed getting the top litter grade. A light scattering of sweet papers and fast food wrappers took away from an otherwise well presented site.'

However, it was not all bad news at the Aldi site as the judges said it was 'better than the Aldi sites in most other towns'.

The worst site surveyed in Arklow was the Mill Road which has a serious litter problem according to the judges. 'The Mill Road which runs from the Bridgewater Centre to Arklow Marina was by far the most heavily littered site surveyed in Arklow.

'It wasn't just the high levels of a wide variety of litter but the derelict buildings and graffiti which contributed to the overall impression.'