*Photograph: Joe Buckley

Dirty streets in Sixmilebridge has prompted a request for Clare County Council’s road sweeper to visit the village once a week.

Cllr John Crowe (FG) issued the appeal at Thursday’s meeting of the Shannon Municipal District where he was supported by Cllr PJ Ryan (IND). The MD currently has access to two road sweepers, one which is Council property and the other is hired primarily to support the roadworks programme.

Demand for the units “is understandably high” senior executive engineer Tom Mellett stated. He explained, “any increase in frequency will need to be budgeted for”. Bin collections in Sixmilebridge have increased from two to three times a week, he advised.

Traffic volumes in Sixmilebridge have “increased dramatically,” Cllr Crowe remarked. “It is impossible for the different organisations and resident groups to sweep a lot of the roads with the amount of traffic whereas with the sweeper it can be done. The streets can get very dirty,” he added.