Louth Tidy Towns seek poster ban

LOUTH Tidy Towns Together, the network of Tidy Towns groups in County Louth, is writing to all candidates in the forthcoming presidential election at the request of ten of its member groups seeking support for the elimination of posters in each of the ten towns and villages involved in the initiative.

A significant number of Tidy Towns groups throughout Ireland have successfully implemented initiatives during previous elections and referendums to maintain poster-free environments withing their village and town centres, and ten Tidy Towns groups in Louth now wish to join this growing movement by seeking a voluntary commitment from all candidates not to erect posters within the 50km/h speed limits of, and at landscaped entrances to, their respective villages and towns.

Larry Magnier, Chairperson of Louth Tidy Towns Together said “This commitment would help enormously in supporting hard-working Tidy Towns volunteers in their ongoing and relentless efforts to present their areas in the most aesthetically pleasing and environmentally sustainable manner possible.

‘With the current publicity around the elimination of single use plastics, and the increasing emphasis on waste prevention, it seems like an appropriate time to assess the need for, and effectiveness of, election and referendum posters.

“While Louth Tidy Towns Together fully understands that the success of this initiative relies totally on the voluntary commitment of ALL candidates in the election, it is hoped that our request will be positively considered in the interest of the exceptionally high standard of presentation, proper resource management, and to support the work of Tidy Towns volunteers in these ten towns and villages” said Larry.

The locations included in the initiative are: •Annagassan •Blackrock •Carlingford •Castlebellinghan / Kilsarn •Dromiskin •Knockbridge

•Louth Village •Monasterboice / Tenure

•Omeath •Stabannon