The Portarlington Tidy Towns committee will not enter the national competition this year because they feel they are not receiving enough support from Laois County Council.
Sinn Fein Cllr Aidan Mullins, a Portarlington native, made the announcement at a recent Municipal meeting.
He said that the group have become increasingly frustrated with what they see as preferential treatment being given to Portlaoise.
He said: “They keep looking at Portlaoise and they see a pick-up truck with two or three council staff out watering flowers along the road.
“Portarlington doesn’t even have adequate litter bins.”
Cllr Tom Mulhall said: “It’s very disheartening on the Tidy Towns people in Portarlington and I’m not surprised they are not entering the competition.”
Cllr Mullins also identified two properties in the town which have been derelict for some time and are now a ‘real eye sore’.
He has asked for the old AIB site on Main Street and the demolished house along Foxrock Street in the town to be placed on the Derelict Sites Register.
Cllr Mullins said: “The Foxrock Site is 100 metres from the main street, is unsightly and an eyesore.
“Over a year ago, in May 2016, I was told that an inspection would be carried out and that the owners would be instructed to remove the items.
“But nothing has happened since.”
Cllr Mulhall added: “There are a number of people in Portarlington who would be damned glad of getting one room to live in and to see buildings like these go to such a state makes no sense.
“You can also go around a number of housing estates in the town and see more derelict houses.”
