Village twins looking terrific despite lockdown
The twin villages of Castlebellingham and Kilsaran will have the usual colourful appearance this summer despite the challenges facing the Tidy Towns Committee in delivering its usual tidy towns work programme.
This is made possible as a result of the committee’s sustainable approach to planting explains Secretary, Jim Byrne who adds ‘we always grow our seasonal plants from plugs in our tunnel and greenhouse and plant hanging baskets and containers ourselves so the temporary closure of garden centres and subsequent shortage of plants didn’t really impact on our ability to put our usual summer displays in place’.
The committee feel that it is important to introduce pops of colour throughout the villages, which are located along a busy stretch of road and which also suffer from vacant and derelict properties which doesn’t always help the initial visual impact.
The committee remains optimistic that these issues will be resolved over time and the architecture of the village restored to its former glory.
Reflecting on the time that the Community Employment Scheme wasn’t able to operate Jim was full of praise for local residents who willingly cut grass in public spaces close to their homes and assisted with litter control and bin emptying which meant that maintenance issues didn’t get out of control during the initial period of Covid-19 restrictions.
This was extremely important for the committee who take great pride in the cleanliness rating of the twin villages and indeed their high standard has been recognised by Louth County Council in its annual Litter League in which Castlebellingham/Kilsaran excels.
Having recently, with a grant from LEADER, produced a 3 Year Plan to inform its work programme the committee members have been busy undertaking projects identified in the consultation process as well as planning for additional works that will be carried out when restrictions are further eased.
These projects include a number of new information panels that have been located in Castlebellingham village as well as at the beautifully landscaped Stabannon Road junction. A further upgrade will shortly be undertaken at this site with the proposed removal of pallet seating and installation of a large feature bed.
A further Information Panel is also planned for The Crescent following a successful grant application to Louth County Council with a further three street/road name signs due to be installed.
2020 certainly is a difficult Tidy Towns season for Castlebellingham, as it is for all tidy towns committees, but the resilience and commitment of volunteers and local residents ensures that the work goes on and the community puts its best foot forward as it
always does.