Meath’s Pride of Place awards will not include shop front recognition
There are no plans to reintroduce a shop front category for next year's Pride of Place awards, Navan councillors have been told.
At the December meeting of Navan Municipal District, Independent councillor Francis Deane suggested introducing new categories, including recognition for shop window displays and upgraded areas that were previously “litter black spots.”
In response, Meath County Council said: “The aim of Pride of Place Scheme is to work in partnership with communities, to encourage best practice, innovation and leadership in providing vibrant sustainable communities that improve the quality of life for all.”
A shop front category was removed from the Pride of Place Scheme by agreement through the Strategic Policy Committee in 2023, as it was considered “a business support and attracted relatively low number of entries annually.”
“There are no proposals to reintroduce a shop window category into the Pride of Place Scheme for 2026,” the council added.
The local authority also noted that upgrading areas which were “previously litter black spots” could have been entered under a Green KM or Streetscape application in the Pride of Place competition in 2025 and previous years.
“The Pride of Place Scheme encourages groups to come together to identify areas or projects where sustainable solutions can be achieved collaboratively,” the council said.
“Such collaborative initiatives will be eligible for entry in the 2026 Pride of Place Scheme.”