Calls to clean up '˜dirty' Larne Main Street pavement

Local traders are calling for regular cleaning of Main Street's new pavement amid complaints that it already looks 'stained' and 'dirty.'
By The Newsroom
Published 27th Sep 2016, 10:37 BST
Updated 5th Oct 2016, 14:45 BST
Stains on the recently-laid footpath on Larne Main Street. INLT-39-708-conStains on the recently-laid footpath on Larne Main Street. INLT-39-708-con
Stains on the recently-laid footpath on Larne Main Street. INLT-39-708-con

The lightly-coloured paving stones were recently laid as part of the £2.01 million Larne public realm scheme, which will officially launch on Thursday September 29.

However, local traders say that the route is already starting to look worn as leaves, dog fouling and litter leave noticeable stains on the white pavement.

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“It looked good for the first week but then the stains started to appear,” said one Main Street trader, who wished to remain anonyous.

Stains on the recently-laid footpath on Larne Main Street. INLT-39-708-conStains on the recently-laid footpath on Larne Main Street. INLT-39-708-con
Stains on the recently-laid footpath on Larne Main Street. INLT-39-708-con

“It’s good that the pavement has been done as it needed replaced but it is already starting to look shabby.

“They need to maintain the path and the council should take responsibility to wash it at least once a month.

“They should have taken into consideration that a lightly-coloured pavement would need more maintenance before it was installed,” he concluded.

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Another trader told the Times that she feared the new pavement would “end up looking worse than the old one.”

Stains on the new Larne Main Street paving stones. INLT-39-711-conStains on the new Larne Main Street paving stones. INLT-39-711-con
Stains on the new Larne Main Street paving stones. INLT-39-711-con

“It’s going to get grubby and it will end up looking terrible,” she said.

“The new trees which have been put in on Main Street are shedding their leaves, which are staining the pavement and which we are also having to clear up from the street and even in the shop.

“They would need to be out cleaning that pavement twice a week if they want it to stay clean.

“I don’t think that the pavement was money well spent.”

The imprint of a leaf is clearly visible on one of Larne Main Street's new paving stones. INLT-39-709-conThe imprint of a leaf is clearly visible on one of Larne Main Street's new paving stones. INLT-39-709-con
The imprint of a leaf is clearly visible on one of Larne Main Street's new paving stones. INLT-39-709-con
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A third trader also commented that the pavement was “very dirty looking.”

“There is a lot of dog fouling, and where the leaves from trees and foliage from hanging baskets fall they leave a mark which looks like rust outside our shops, she stated.

“The council should have done the pavement in a darker colour and thought about it properly before they installed it.”

The Times contacted Mid and East Antrim Borough Council to enquire whether it planned to clean the pavement regularly, how much this would cost and why the decision was made to purchase the paving stones in a light colour.

However, no response had been received at the time of going to press.