Bray People

TIDY TOWNS LOCAL RESULTS AND ADJUDICATO­RS’ REPORTS

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BRAY 296 MARKS (286 IN 2016) COMMUNITY INVOLVEMEN­T AND PLANNING

You are very welcome to the SuperValu Tidy Towns Competitio­n 2017. Well done to your committee for all the work undertaken by Bray Tidy Towns (BTT) over the last year, as set out in your Submission and Applicatio­n form, which is highly commended. Thank you also for your very clear and well-presented and comprehens­ive Entry Submission which included before and after photos. You really did heed the comments made in last year’s Adjudicati­on report and the specially designed Map submitted with your applicatio­n form was very clear and well put together and made the adjudicato­r’s job identifyin­g places of interest in the Town so much easier. It is noted that you have 7 Committee Members on your Committee at least a further 25 local residents who volunteer to carry out your works programme on an ongoing basis. It is great to see your Committee has establishe­d strong links to other agencies and bodies (25 plus) who are assisting you in your objective to make Bray ‘A great Town even better’.

Your Committee has clearly worked very hard over the last year to complete high profile improvemen­ts around the Town which hopefully will encourage other groups and individual­s to get involved with Bray Tidy Towns - this is a worthwhile strategy.

Your Committee has also performed an important role in highlighti­ng to Local Authoritie­s particular issues of concern such as litter enforcemen­t, shopfront improvemen­ts, unauthoris­ed signage and the proposed establishm­ent of Architectu­ral Conservati­on Areas in the Town. We wish you well in your future endeavours in building further cohesion amongst all those bodies involved in improving the Town of Bray and in expanding your volunteer base, which is crucial in protecting what you have and also implementi­ng ongoing improvemen­ts.

BUILT ENVIRONMEN­T AND STREETSCAP­E

The Harbour Area was visited and the painting work carried out by Bray Tidy Towns on the Harbour Bridge was noted positively. Also prominent here is the railway bridge which is rusting badly - perhaps Irish Rail might be willing to paint this structure too? The nearby boatyard security fence detracts from this area and could be improved by the planting of a hedge on the roadside of the fence. The fence might also be painted on completion of the nearby footpath improvemen­t works. The architectu­ral quality of many of the residentia­l streets in Bray is superb and this is recognised in the designatio­n of substantia­l areas of the Town as Architectu­ral Conservati­ons Areas as part of the Bray Town Plan. The Quinsboro Road flanked by lines of mature and semi-mature trees particular­ly impressed.

The avenues of lime, horse chestnut and ash along this road adds to the sense of grandeur in this part of the Town. Some seating in this area would benefit from cleaning and re-painting. The Manse building erected in 1850 is a real gem set back from the road and adds greatly to the architectu­ral quality of the streetscap­e here.

On the Main Street, the canvas screens erected on the frontage of a number of disused properties caught the eye and were effective in screening potential eyesores – however, it is hoped these can be removed before too long as developmen­t of these properties commences.

The quality of the buildings and the surrounds at the Municipal District Bray Civic offices was excellent. The hanging baskets and window-boxes along the Main Street really did brighten up this part of the town. The Tiger shop, Gamestop, Paddy Power and Eurosaver premises have generic modern shopfronts which are generally not in keeping with the quality of the streetscap­e in Bray.

Perhaps the owners could be requested to review their shopfront designs to see if they can be better integrated into the overall character of the Main Street.

The Pink bicycle feature and flower tubs outside the ‘One Oh Nine’ premises were greatly admired.

The newly completed dwellings along the Seapoint Road impressed and they complement the architectu­ral quality of existing residentia­l properties in the area. A section of wall along the Seapoint Road is broken down and could be repaired.

It was a particular­ly warm and sunny morning when the Albert Walk was visited and it was a pleasure to sample the ‘ambience’ created here through the quality of the shopfronts, walkway and planting and the ongoing maintenanc­e, all of which was very impressive. Ragwort (a noxious weed) was noted in a section of the planting here and could be pulled by hand, when the opportunit­y arises.

The new cantilever­ed walkway and cycleway erected as part of the River Dargle Flood Protection Scheme was admired.

This is a fabulous amenity although one wonders whether any provision has been made for reinstatin­g natural vegetation along the edge of the river here, as the river margins and mudflats are now quite bare, having been cleared of all the natural riverside vegetation during constructi­on work?

The Bray Tidy Towns volunteers have done a terrific job this year painting over graffiti in doorways, on junction boxes, walls, shutters, shelters etc. – well done to everyone who was involved with this work as it really improves the overall appearance of the Town.

LANDSCAPIN­G AND OPEN SPACES

The work carried out by Bray Tidy Towns at the Train Station, a highprofil­e site in the Town, has really enhanced the presentati­on of this important building and its surrounds, for the benefit of visitors and local residents alike.

The before and after photos show how much of an improvemen­t has been made here, with this significan­t building in the Town, once again brought into view from the public road.

However, it is noted that the work may not be fully completed here, as some discarded clippings and remains of trees etc. are awaiting removal off-site.

Timber kerbs may also need to be re-instated and tree stumps levelled to complete the improvemen­t works along the frontage.

Some littering was noted at the Cash and Carry site opposite the Train Station, although the new painting scheme and partially completed wall mural has significan­tly enhanced the presentati­on of these premises, when viewed from the opposite side of the road - well done to Bray Tidy Towns volunteers and all who co-operated in the completion of these enhancemen­t schemes.

Road surfaces and markings in the vicinity of the Train Station would benefit from upgrade and repair works. The site adjacent to Bray Cabs was noted for the extensive growth of weeds here, significan­t littering and a proliferat­ion of unsightly advertisin­g hoardings.

A large metal Kiosk at the entrance to the station with torn posters falling away detracts from this area.

The newly paved Plaza and entrance to the People’s Park was greatly admired. However, some weed control is required in the planting beds here and also around the new trees in the park – these newly planted Lime trees appeared to be suffering from moisture stress on the day of the visit and it is suggested that these would benefit from regular watering.

It was a sunny summer morning when the Strand Road and Bray Seafront was visited and the whole area was a hive of activity and with the beachfront and wonderful views of Bray Head, the whole scene was a joy to behold. It was noted that scaffoldin­g and a canopy had been erected over the ‘iconic’ railings along the beachfront.

It is presumed that this was to facilitate restoratio­n works on the railings which are now quite old and rusted. The large number of ‘Big Belly’ litter bins with their ‘Full Notificati­on System’ along the seafront was noted positively. There was a complete absence of litter along the Seafront walk - very well done to all concerned with maintenanc­e operations here.

The attractive ornamental low railings on the landward side of the Seafront walk would benefit from restoratio­n and re-painting work and it is presumed this is in the pipeline.

The Children’s Playground was a great attraction and was well maintained. The newly paved Plaza surroundin­g the Bandstand on the seafront with its tiered flower planters was a very impressive public space. A small group of schoolchil­dren were using the bandstand as an outdoor classroom during the visit!

One wonders whether there are future plans to continue the cycle way along the seafront where it is interrupte­d by car parking in the vicinity of the Bray Sea Life premises?

WILDLIFE, HABITATS AND NATURAL AMENITIES

It is noted that the important sites in Bray with regard to the protection of wildlife and natural amenities include Bray Head, The Seafront, The Dargle River, Kilruddery and the Harbour Area.

It is great to note that a Management Plan has recently been prepared for Bray Head and the Flood Protection works along the Dargle River has provided an opportunit­y to further document, promote and enhance the richness of the ecology along the river here. It is good that a member of Bray Tidy Towns sits on the Environmen­tal Committee for the Dargle Project – perhaps earlier questions regarding the re-instatemen­t of natural riverside vegetation cleared during constructi­on works can be addressed by the Committee. It is noted that Bray Seafront has been awarded a Blue Flag again this year and Bray Tidy Towns amongst others, has been involved in securing this award. You organise beach clean ups in conjunctio­n with other interested parties. The colonies of seabirds present in the Harbour area are closely monitored by member of Bray Tidy Towns on an ongoing basis.

It is also noted that a Biodiversi­ty Officer has been appointed in Kilruddery Estate in conjunctio­n with the ‘Neighbourw­ood Initiative’ in the Demesne. Thanks are due to the students of Presentati­on College Bray for the great work they have carried out producing 20 Bird Nest Boxes which were erected at the school and at various locations in the Town.

Congratula­tions to the Edible Bray Group who received the KBC Bright Ideas Award and Community Gardens Award, for their work at Albert Walk and elsewhere.

SUSTAINABL­E WASTE AND RESOURCE MANAGEMENT

Thank you for using waste hops from the nearby ‘Wicked Wolf’ brewery and your own green waste for mulching the planting beds at Albert Walk and elsewhere - this encourages strong plant growth and aids non-chemical weed control. It is noted that you are re- using cigarette litter bins at Albert Walk in consultati­on with local businesses. It is good to see that a pilot scheme is being put in place by Bray Municipal District to install waste segregatio­n bins at Bray Seafront- we would be interested to see how the public responds to this.

The ‘RIO’ Fish Sculpture piece produced for Culture Week using waste metal collected from Bray North Beach looks great and fits well into this category. The use of recycled pallets to provide planters at the Train Station and the erection of LED lights here is noted positively. Well done to Bray Recycling Centre and the many charity shops in the Town such as Castaways, which are supported by Bray Tidy Towns and which encourage up-cyling, re-use and recycling of previously owned goods.

For next year Bray Tidy Towns could consider further initiative­s under this category such as ; encouragin­g local people to engage in further sustainabl­e waste, water, energy and transport actions e.g. promoting the use of low carbon electric vehicles, promoting the installati­on of e-car charge point(s) in the Town, extending cycle parking facilities in the Town, developing a ‘Bray Bike Scheme’ in the Town, the developmen­t of further greenways and cycle routes in the area, encouragin­g the greater use of solar panels on building roofs, heat exchange units to reduce energy consumptio­n by households/businesses, promoting greater use of water butts for watering in private gardens and for town plantings, organising stop food waste seminars etc.

TIDINESS AND LITTER CONTROL

Tidiness and litter control was generally good in Bray on the day of adjudicati­on.

Some litter was noted on residentia­l streets between Strand Road and Vevay Road and graffiti was prominent at a limited number of locations, including the Dublin Road approach (on a gable wall) and on the Bray Wanderers F.C. perimeter boundary wall. Broken kerbs were noted at the junction of Wyndham Park and Quinsboro Road.

It is noted that a plan is being drawn up in relation to signage in the Town including a review of redundant signs and poles.

The Dog Fouling Prevention Stickers produced by Bray Tidy Towns are very imaginativ­e and get the message across very well to dog owners in relation to their responsibi­lities in relation to this ongoing problem. As stated previously them Seafront Area on the day of adjudicati­on was spotless and it is great to see so many Big Belly bins now in place throughout the town. The ‘full notificati­on’ sensor on the bins no doubt assists greatly in the overall litter management operations and scheduling for the Town. It is noted that you have replaced widespread litter picks with advocacy and making representa­tions to the Council in relation to litter enforcemen­t etc. With a Town the size of Bray this is probably a good strategy and enables you to deal with other pressing issues such as graffiti, landscape maintenanc­e and specific targeted enhancemen­t schemes.

RESIDENTIA­L STREETS AND HOUSING AREAS

The Seacrest Estate was visited and the estate was well-presented.

However, there were some weeds along the kerbs here which detracted somewhat from the general appearance of the estate. Phoenix palms are seldom seen and it was good to spot them growing vigorously at the apartment complex at Mountain View, off Putland Road.

The overall presentati­on and landscapin­g of this developmen­t was admired. The Headlands Estate was visited and the presentati­on and maintenanc­e of the entrance railings, open spaces and trees in the estate was excellent.

The Community Garden on the main open space was inspected and this adjudicato­r was very impressed with the wonderful garden and polytunnel created here – congratula­tions to all the local residents for the hard work done to date in progressin­g this great community project. The garden maintenanc­e was excellent with fruit trees, vegetables and perimeter willow planting growing strongly. The fruit trees were laden with fruit and I’m sure a great crop will be available for harvest at the end of the season.

Some green waste material was noted on the boundary of the open space, which it is presumed will be shredded to provide a mulch for subsequent use in the garden.

Swanbrook and Earlscroft estates were visited and were found to be very neat and tidy with well-maintained gardens and communal spaces. The well -establishe­d street tree planting in both the estates was admired and this added to their mature well cared for appearance.

APPROACH ROADS, STREETS AND LANES

Considerat­ion could be given to installing an herbaceous perennial planting scheme around the ‘Welcome to Bray’ sign on the Dublin Road. Exposed geotextile was noted in the planted area along the frontage of Topaz Garage which could be topped up and covered with gravel as this can be unsightly. Road markings on the Dublin Road particular­ly at road junctions were very faint in places and could be renewed. What looks like a mature Stone Pine situated just inside the grounds of Ravenswell Primary School at the junction of Dublin Road and Dargle Road was admired – it would be good to request the School to remove the vigorous growth of ivy from this tree, as it is a very unusual and rare specimen in Ireland. The small roundabout at Briarwood could be considered for a landscape and enhancemen­t scheme, as this is an important roundabout at the entrance to Bray. Some littering was noted in the vicinity of the bus stop near the roundabout and perhaps a litter bin is required here. The wildflower meadows at the entrance to Kilruddery House and Gardens were most attractive. The presentati­on of the Southern Cross Road was impressive with good litter control. The old and defunct bus shelters are unsightly along this road and might be replaced. The grass edge along the road kerbs could be cut back to provide a neater presentati­on along the road. It was good to see the long grass retained along the roadside footpaths, as this encourages increased biodiversi­ty.

Along the Upper Dargle Road, the frontage at Egan’s Business Centre is rather unappealin­g and would benefit from some tree planting installed just behind the front boundary wall, if this is possible. Painting of traffic light posts at the Fassaroe Road junction would also be beneficial. Discarded clippings and organic material on the roadside margin outside the Nurseries housing estate detracted from this area and the planting bed here also needs some attention.

CONCLUDING REMARKS

It was a great pleasure to visit your lovely seaside Town on a warm summers day in June and Bray Tidy Towns Committee can be justly proud of all your achievemen­ts this year. You have been successful in completing a number of headline and high-profile projects this year, which will hopefully

lay the foundation­s for improving participat­ion amongst the Community and strengthen­ing your connection­s with other like-minded groups working in the Town. You have set out an ambitious works programme as part of your multi-annual plan and due to the unique features of the Town, you have a great capacity and potential to progress well in the Competitio­n.

SHANKILL 312 MARKS (309 IN 2016) COMMUNITY INVOLVEMEN­T AND PLANNING

Welcome to the SuperValu Tidy Towns Competitio­n 2017 or your 10th year and we note you are enjoying thereactio­n to last year’s silver medal success and being the overall winner in the DLRCC Tidy Districts. Your committee of eight members have another 30 volunteers and a further 20 people who help with picking litter.

Monthly meetings are held and you have two community meetings per year. Almost two pages of informatio­n on supporting agencies is a strong indication that you have good links with public bodies, private businesses and other groups. Similarly, a full page on how you communicat­e using social media and many other means demonstrat­es your level of activity. You have a school coordinato­r who visits schools and talks with students and we note that Scouts and Beavers assist in clean-up days.

Many thanks for attaching a map of the area with project locations marked for our attention. Our only problem was having to open the applicatio­n book each time to consult the map so may we suggest that you include a loose copy as well for our convenienc­e and please transfer the adjudicati­on boundary line from the small map in the Appendices to this large map.

Your 3-year plan is well thought out but being in landscape format, the print is very small and it would be easier to read if in a larger font and in portrait format using the word wrap facility. Your documentat­ion/applicatio­n is very profession­al and we like the way you have included small pictures throughout the text. However, its size and content is much more informatio­n than we need or prefer. You should be aware that the adjudicati­on emphasis is to see what is on the ground rather than spending time reading the applicatio­n. Adjudicato­rs will judge from 30 to 70 centres each year and in that regard, ‘less is more’. It is preferable if the applicatio­n includes short bullet point sentences under each heading and printed on both sides of the page. So, we advise that you aim to shorten next year’s applicatio­n significan­tly from the more than

BUILT ENVIRONMEN­T AND STREETSCAP­E

Your built environmen­t is spread over a distance but the journey to each is worth the trip because they are so impressive. St. Anne’s Church is a great focal point set in a spacious site on the junction of the Dublin Road and Shanganagh Road and beside it the fine Resource Centre. What surprised us was the poor quality of the trees in the front lawns, some of which were dead. From a design viewpoint, we expected to see an avenue of good quality trees such as lime, maple or birch framing the church from the Dublin Road. It is not too late to undertake such a project. At the other end of your community, we admired the view of St. James’s Church, also set in a spacious site and can be easily viewed by passers-by through the long frontage of railings on a plinth wall. The church looks splendid and is even enhanced further with floral displays. Some ground improvemen­t works are of recent origin but we found it difficult to exit right with the limited visibility and wondered why this was changed from using the former gates in the railings which have better visibility. Some recently planted evergreens at the exit have died, which is good because they are not suited to this location where small shrubs/ alpine perennials would be better. We wondered why the Shankill Shopping Centre looked empty until we read the story in your applicatio­n. The site is well landscaped with trees and hedges. One dead tree was seen and some graffiti. If the retaining wall on the Shanganagh Road is to remain exposed in a proposed new scheme, we suggest it be used for murals as a way of using art to occupy those who do graffiti.

We visited the cut stone Carnegie Library and wondered why it was located some distance from other parts of Shankill, but then, it is in a residentia­l area where its customers live.

We enjoyed the wild flowers growing to one side of the building and admired the reuse of old litter bins for flowers. The modern Garda Station in Dorney took us by surprise.

Shanganagh House is now providing more value for residents as a Community Centre compared with its former use; we admired the hanging baskets and window boxes. It is disappoint­ing to see Shanganagh Castle closed awaiting a new use. We visited the busy shopping area on the Main Street, a delightful hub for your community. It includes shops, a pharmacy, several restaurant­s and all seem to be thriving. Brady’s of Shankill is a complex which also includes a wine store and Mickey Byrne’s Bar. We admired the trees in the small car park behind the shops. Some premises such as Champs Barbers have traditiona­l shop fronts but the rest have a range of styles. From recollecti­on, the paving here was one of the first done in back in the 1990s under urban and village renewal programmes and it has lasted well. There is no doubt that this line of shops has an appeal for customers that can be attributed in part to the high standard of landscape treatment.

You are fortunate to have such fine parks and open spaces in your community. Shanganagh Park is a large expanse with active and passive facilities.

The allotments are well managed and the playground is well used. It is a pity that the view of the park from the road is hidden because of the tall granite stone boundary wall. The stone is attractive but the back of the wall is concrete which is much less attractive from inside the park. Has DLRCC ever considered reducing the height of the wall to that of the wall on the opposite side of the road? If necessary, it could then have a railing on the wall for security. Shanganagh cemetery is a showpiece. The line of birch trees and beside it a linear bed of Begonias must be a great delight for all who visit there to see graves of friends and relatives.

The car park which serves both the park and the cemetery is one of the best ever seen with lines of hornbeam trees separating the rows of parked cars.

At Shankill station, we also liked the car park but suggest that it can be improved with tree planting and all Iarnrod Eireann has to do is to visit the cemetery/park car park to see how it is done. You are well served with schools, St Anne’s School and Scoil Mhuire schools have well planted grounds and we saw the green flag flying. St. Joseph’s Centre also looked well, we wondered if it is still necessary to have the rocks placed on the footpath outside the entrance.

LANDSCAPIN­G AND OPEN SPACES

You have numbered 24 locations under this heading, a very significan­t amount and some such as the orchard of native apple trees is a long-term project which was initiated some years ago. Well done on that project which is very important. The main structural elements in the landscape are trees and you have many good examples planted by past generation­s. We have already referred to the importance of trees in the above section and mentioned where we found some very good example of trees planted in recent decades.

We have also suggested an approach for the grounds of St. Anne’s Church. What surprised us was the failures of more recent tree planting on the Shanganagh Road. Have you determined if this was due to soil, drought or shade? When trees are establishe­d it is important to remove the stakes as the stems can get damaged from the ties or stake. In that regard, we suggest that the young trees on open spaces at Athgoe and the Dorney roundabout be checked. They seem strong enough, not to need supporting stake and yet they are leaning. The roundabout at St. Anne’s Church is very well done and is a good landmark for Shankill.

We also noticed the attempt to enhance the small roundabout at Quinn’s Road and we understand the concerns of Road Engineers regarding safety and advise that they visit some other places in Ireland, such as Kilkenny where roundabout­s are very well done. From a landscape perspectiv­e, the best roundabout­s this adjudicato­r has seen are in French towns where it seems the same traffic concerns are not an issue. Chevrons dominate the roundabout at Quinn’s Road and the single plant container cannot compete. What surprised us was the fact that this roundabout was better planted in 2009, why the change?

Guideline for plant containers is to use them only where planting directly into the ground is not possible and we noted the placing of plant containers at some junctions to add colour etc. When you cannot see the container holding a floral display, that is a measure of great success and so you should be very proud of the Petunia displays on the railings on the Dublin Road near the beginning of the M1. These are very high quality, as are the containers on the Main Street. However, we do not understand why large timber containers are placed on grassed areas throughout the Rathsallag­h residentia­l estate. In our view, they don’t look well especially since the ground beneath them is scorched yellow with weed killer. These and other containers add very little to this area. One problem with flower beds is that communitie­s are copying from each other and somewhere the notion has emerged that flower beds need surrounds of timber or stone or other material when in fact, no such border is necessary. They can be planted directly into the grounds and if necessary, raised in the middle with extra soil for extra impact and the edges of grass simply edged in traditiona­l fashion. Therefore, in our view, the addition of a single small flower bed with a timber surround placed on a large open space such as in New Vale adds nothing in terms of enhancemen­t. What is needed on that space is something significan­t such as a line or clumps of trees or some hedges to form spaces within the larger space.

In regard to the Main Street, we suggest that you aim to have trees planted into the ground in front of the shops as was done across the road. If that is not possible, perhaps because of undergroun­d services, then you will want to continue with trees in large planters.

On the opposite side of the road we suggest that you forget about planting any flowers under the establishe­d trees because it is not sustainabl­e (competitio­n with trees for shade and with tree roots for water and nutrients). Flowers should be in full sun. Some containers in the spaces between the trees (as you have done) work much better.

WILDLIFE, HABITATS AND NATURAL AMENITIES

Shankill is a large area with plenty of trees and other vegetation. While people may not be able to access all areas because of the many private gated gardens, wildlife have no such difficulti­es. This is a rich natural area in your community and it is important to promote an awareness of its many traits and to map these habitats. You are doing so with the Festina Lente Wood and adding biodiversi­ty with the Irish apple collection. You also plant trees for National Tree Week and to celebrate your success last year. The 14 bat boxes near the 3 national schools is another worthy project and will generate interest to see if any potential tenants decide to stay. The visits to see the rare Sand Martins must have generated enthusiasm. Appreciati­ng your local wildlife resources is vital in order to achieve under this category. In this regard researchin­g and raising awareness is more important than ‘doing’ at the early stages. Biodiversi­ty is under threat globally and sadly Ireland is a part of this trend. Habitats of value include specimen trees, hedgerows, treelines, streams, woodlands and wetlands. List the plants and animals to be found in your natural environmen­t and recognise their significan­ce (native, protected, or alien invasive?). This would be a very useful project for schools. The actions listed in your applicatio­n are noted.

SUSTAINABL­E WASTE AND RESOURCE MANAGEMENT

Projects mentioned in your applicatio­n include the ‘Every Can Counts’, the Shanganagh allotments, green flag

school programmes, segregatio­n of collected waste, rain water harvesting, car-pooling, cycling schemes, battery

recycling and some more ideas. Other measures that you can take in regard to sustainabi­lity are as follows……..

Contact your waste contractor­s and try to find out what is being thrown away and armed with this informatio­n you can start to think about how waste can be reduced. Examine the waste pyramid and note the recycling is only the fourth most preferred option after avoidance, reducing and re-using. One third of our waste is organic in nature, such as grass clippings. You can avoid collecting mown grass by more frequent cutting and using mulching mowers which shred the clippings and facilitate faster decomposit­ion. In regard to water usage, self-watering hanging baskets are a help in reducing the amount of water used and also the task of watering. Other waste minimisati­on projects might include working with retailers to cut down on packaging, reminding people to re-use shopping bags, discouragi­ng junk mail, encouragin­g the re-use of water bottles and coffee mugs at school and at work. These activities will highlight the fact that you are focussing on this category and when you develop more projects in the future your marks will increase.

TIDINESS AND LITTER CONTROL

We noted the great works you do in controllin­g litter, which in general has worked well and we appreciate the difficulty with this task in a large urban area. We noted small amounts of litter in a few locations, examples being in the car park at the cemetery, the Centra complex in Rathsallag­h which would benefit from painting and at the beach steps. More conspicuou­s is the graffiti problem which is not confined to one place; we note your success in using a thin mix of cement, sand and water. In regard to weed control, the trend throughout Europe is to change from using chemicals such as Roundup (Glyphosate) and we note your decision on this as well. However, the evidence on the ground is of an excessive use of weed killer, which is most likely being done by DLRCC but we know they are evaluating different materials/methods at present.

RESIDENTIA­L STREETS AND HOUSING AREAS

There are many residentia­l schemes in Shankill and most are in good condition and well maintained. In Seaview estate, there were kerbside weeds but none were seen at Kentfield where grass was well maintained on the small open space and we enjoyed the large trees. We admired the granite walls at Rathmichae­l Woods. The open space was well maintained and well planted as were also the private gardens. The name stone at Hazelwood is almost hidden with plants; we liked the ivy clad sections of screen walls here. There are plenty of street trees but the inner open space would benefit from tree planting; gardens are well maintained. At Broomfield Court, we suggest that some attention be paid to renewing the planting at the entrance. It is overgrown so perhaps it would be best to remove and replant anew. Clifton Park has two large open spaces with plenty of trees and we liked the tree lined road there. We admired the special effort of flower planting done at the side of houses in Rathsallag­h Grove. The outdoor gym and playground in this estate seem well used. The road needs repair on Rathsallag­h Drive and road/street signs need cleaning/painting. We liked the entrance at Beechfield Manor and at Ballybride estates.

Eaton Wood estate also looked very well. In Shrewsbury Road, we noted the control of ivy on some tall trees and nearby, the successful establishm­ent of ivy on a pole supporting overhead wires. Some dead trees here should be removed. In Castle Farm estate, we saw supporting stakes on trees and suggest they be checked because it is likely they may not be required. The New Vale estate and others in that area have many

cottage style buildings which look very well. Many gardens were developed and maintained to a very high standard; Number 213 had an exceptiona­l display. The linear open space at New Vale could be developed to be a show piece for the area that would be better used by the community. In our view, it is deserving of special treatment and we advise that a landscape plan be prepared.

APPROACH ROADS, STREETS AND LANES

You are fortunate that so many approaches to Shankill have establishe­d trees. This contrasts significan­tly with some other communitie­s where their work entails planting trees on approach roads. We agree that you need to make it clear where the limits of Shankill start and end and to do so in a welcoming way with signage. We also agree that improvemen­t of the four roundabout­s mentioned is an important issue. The other works mentioned regarding granite stone wall boundary improvemen­t is very important. We admired the sculpture on the Dublin Road off the Loughlinst­own roundabout.

While we are aware of restrictio­ns on roundabout treatment by the NRA, we neverthele­ss consider the Loughlinst­own roundabout as an opportunit­y to announce Shankill through some appropriat­e planting such as a pattern of low hedges, that people would remember. Entry to Shankill at this point is very pleasant, made so by the line of trees and the high-quality floral displays in containers attached to the railings (mentioned above). What takes from this impact is the presence of litter, graffiti on walls and paving and the over use of weed killer. The sign for Loughlinst­own on Stonebridg­e Road is covered by branches of trees.

Commons Road has houses on one side, a stone wall on the other. Quinn’s Road leading down to the beach access needs improvemen­t. While it might be desirable to retain the country lane effect it is not happening because of inadequate car parking facilities. This is a major issue to be resolved. The Dublin Mountain Way is a significan­t walking route for you; the sign on Main Street looked fine.

CONCLUDING REMARKS

Well done on your efforts to improve Shankill; it is paying dividends. We hope this report provides some guidance for your future plans.

GREYSTONES 289 MARKS (0 IN 2016*)

*Greystones did not compete in the 2016 competitio­n but scored 283 marks in 2015

COMMUNITY INVOLVEMEN­T AND PLANNING

Well done to your Committee for all the hard work undertaken by Greystones Tidy Towns (GTT) over the last year. The Applicatio­n Form including the many photograph­s showing works carried out etc. is presented to a very high standard. You have 20 signed up members with a further 7 regular volunteers and meetings are held monthly. The availabili­ty of the 5 Tús and CE workers will be a great benefit to your Committee in implementi­ng your work programmes and it is great to see you have establishe­d a good working relationsh­ip with the local Municipal Council and the various Residents Associatio­ns in the Town. Your fundraisin­g events are very impressive and the GRAPE event and Christmas Market at the Harbour Area and Family Fun Day appear to have been a great success generating much needed funds for Tidy Towns – thanks to all who were involved in organising these. Your Communicat­ion methods using local Newspapers, Twitter, e-mail, texting, Newsletter and phone etc are particular­ly appropriat­e for the types of activities you promote and are engaged in.

We wish you well in finalising the upgrade to your web-site. It is important to encourage youth involvemen­t in Tidy Towns and you seem to be making great strides in this regard in involving young people particular­ly Transition Year Students and Scouts who help with your work on the ground, and in liaising with local schools providing talks etc. through your schools’ liaison Officer and Green Co-Ordinators. Do you have a youth member on your Main Committee ? This would be a welcome developmen­t. The range of environmen­tal education activities undertaken by local schools as outlined in your submission is very impressive with the Heritage in Schools Programme, Stream of Conscience and After School Garden Project being particular­ly noteworthy. Congratula­tions are also due to Greystones Lawn Tennis Club for al the assistance and support given GTT and in providing meeting facilities, equipment and volunteers as required.

Planning for the future should be an integral part of any Tidy Towns developmen­t strategy and it is noted that GTT has initiated the establishm­ent of the 2020 Greystones Forum which engages with all stakeholde­rs for the betterment of Greystones and work is also ongoing with your 2017 planned Work Plan – we wish you well with all your endeavours here.

BUILT ENVIRONMEN­T AND STREETSCAP­E

The site at Saint Crispin’ Cell s was visited and the adjudicato­r was very interested in the history and antiquity of this site. It is noted that new footpaths have been installed on the open space providing improved access and you have commission­ed a Geo Survey which indicates that the Church may be older than first thought. Perhaps in relation to the management of the site, considerat­ion could be given to providing more extensive areas of long grass in the interests of wildlife and biodiversi­ty and this would also reduce grass cutting and maintenanc­e costs. The Old Farmyard was noted with interest and unfortunat­ely the structure here is currently overgrown with ivy. To protect the building for the future, the careful removal of the ivy from the building under archaeolog­ical supervisio­n should be considered. This could be tackled on a phased basis, as resources allow. Because of the fabulous sea views available on the site, it would be good to install a number of seats here facing the coast. A Heritage or Interpreti­ve Sign installed near the Church ruins would be desirable to inform visitors of the ecclesiast­ical importance and history of the property. Some discarded green waste was noted near the pedestrian entrance to the Church site at Redford Park. The concrete post and rail boundary fence around the open space does not enhance the frontage here and its replacemen­t should be considered. It is noted that you have carried out an extensive programme of improvemen­t works at the Dart Station including new planting, painting the Station Buildings and installing portraits by a local artist Tom Byrne. It was good to see some work commencing on the derelict La Touche Hotel site overlookin­g the sea. The presentati­on of the Garda station, which is a building of significan­t architectu­ral quality in the town, was greatly admired. The traditiona­l style single-storey cottages with attractive front gardens at Trafalgar Road added to the character of this part of the Town. The tasteful floral displays at Organic Hair Colours was a great spectacle here. The Holy Rosary Church and environs were neat and tidy and the grounds were maintained to a high standardth­is is a very striking building in the Town fronting on to La Touche Road. The Main Street was a central meeting point and most welcoming, as people were out drinking coffee and relaxing in the sunshine.

The Plaza fronting the Dart Station was a busy thoroughfa­re during the visit and the station building itself was well presented. It was great to note very extensive covered parking facilities at the Station available for bicycles which were so numerous it reminded one of similar bike parks seen on the Continent! Very colourful floral displays brightened the Main Street with premises such as Daly’s Super Valu, Mooch, The Happy Pear, O’Briens Wines, McCauley’s Pharmacy, Bocelli’s, The Hungry Monk, to name but a few and all providing a great display – many thanks to all those concerned. The planters installed on the Main Street by Greystones Tidy Towns looked well and complement­ed the floral displays provided on the business premises. The finish of the road surface along the Main Street was very good. A number of shopfronts might be reviewed in terms of their presentati­on including Lams Asian Cuisine and The Apaches Pizza premises. The Helena Cottage dwelling looked a little forlorn and would benefit from a tidy up. Overhead cables are prominent along the Main Street and the possibilit­y of undergroun­ding these as part of a future Village Enhancemen­t Scheme should be explored.

LANDSCAPIN­G AND OPEN SPACES

The extensive Plaza and areas of high quality paving at the Harbour, together with the maritime plantings of lavender, ornamental grasses and large pine trees were most attractive. We look forward to the time when a direct pedestrian walkway from the Harbour area to the Bray Head walk is fully completed - this will be a great public amenity to be enjoyed by the residents of Greystones and visitors alike. The planting bed at the entrance to the Arches was noted and the work of Greystones Tidy Towns has made a great difference here – some attention however, needs to be given to weed control here especially during the plant establishm­ent phase.

The landscapin­g scheme along the wall at the car park adjacent to Brereton Carpets could do with a revamp. The ivy plants in the wooden containers in the car park here are struggling to establish. This concrete block wall is unsightly and would benefit from more intensive screening. Therefore, self-clinging climbing plants planted directly into the soil and preferably using a deciduous species with good autumn colour, could be used here. Burnaby park was visited and was presented to a good standard. The new planting scheme at the northern boundary of the park has establishe­d well. This was a very attractive and well - designed feature in the park with a colourful palette of blue, purple, grey, and pink dominating the pollinator friendly planting mix - all of which was greatly admired. The 1916 Commemorat­ive tree planting and paved area situated in the south-eastern corner of the Park was positively noted as was the nearby Bowling Green. The carved boulders at the entrance to the Park and the raised timber seating area looked well. The timber seats may be due some maintenanc­e work, as weathering has had some effect on these. It is noted that you continue to plant the bank opposite Council Offices, as plant material becomes available and you have planted 10 Lime trees along the boundary of Shoreline. You have also carried out the planting of Erigeron under railings at Shoreline to supress weeds and to provide a floral display in Summer -thanks are due to the local business man who sponsored this work.

WILDLIFE, HABITATS AND NATURAL AMENITIES

The wildlife signs situated along the seafront opposite Saint David’s Holy Faith Secondary School were admired as were the colourful planters nearby. You have concentrat­ed this year on planting insect and bird friendly species to encourage biodiversi­ty. A total of 2000 bulbs have been planted around the Town with the assistance of the scouts.

Your idea to create a Pollinator Path through the Town is interestin­g and it would be good to involve local schools to the creation of appropriat­e signage. Wildflower Meadows have been establishe­d at the St. Crispin’s site and there is a possibilit­y to extend these in the interest of encouragin­g biodiversi­ty. Despite quite a search, the adjudicato­r was unfortunat­ely unable to find the Cotoneaste­r wall at Lidl Business Centre but from the photograph this appears to be establishi­ng very well. You have cleared an unsightly planting area on the Rathdown Road and replaced the planting with a range of pollinator friendly species. The plant material used in the planters around the Town continues to include insect and pollinator -friendly plants. The ongoing and important work including the re-introducti­on of wild plantings at the area known locally as the Picnic Field and the Mill Lane is commended.

SUSTAINABL­E WASTE AND RESOURCE MANAGEMENT

Engaging with local schoolchil­dren to create an awareness of the concept of waste minimisati­on through the holding Waste Treasure Trail project in conjunctio­n with local businesses and the ‘Love Our World’ Christmas Competitio­n were worthy initiative­s under this category. A water usage survey has also been undertaken by St David’s TY Students with a view to providing recommenda­tions on ways to reduce the wastage of water. The ‘Charleslan­d Goes Green’ initiative is welcomed and seems to have been a success in reducing food waste in the 50 households participat­ing in Charleslan­d. You have been engaging with local children with regard to aluminium can re-cycling initiative­s and have organised a talk with local schools and scouts on the importance of this issue -we wish you well with the proposed sculpture project. Your plans for more organised rainwater harvesting to facilitate the watering of plantings during the Summer are commended. It is clearly not sustainabl­e to be paying €100 euros per week for a tanker when this can be collected and stored locally for free. We wish you great success with the project for the re-use and repair of furniture collected from apartment blocks to be undertaken by the Men’s Shed, for re-sale in local charity shops.

TIDINESS AND LITTER CONTROL

On the day of judging we noticed that a CE/Tús worker was busily picking up litter in the Harbour area, and the extensive paved areas and plantings here, were generally very neat and tidy. There was some littering along the main Church Street thoroughfa­re and at Burnaby Park although this consisted mainly of cigarette butts. The granite seats and cleanlines­s along the open space at the Seafront to the south of the town were particular­ly admired. It is great that you have your own team of ‘Graffiti busters’ who operate on a 2- day turnaround, upon notificati­on. This is crucial as a slow response can give rise to further incidents of graffiti. Where graffiti is a problem on walls facing open space areas, the use of hedge planting has proved to be successful in deterring graffiti. You seem to have a good handle on litter control in the Town with access to 5 staff from the Tús/CE Scheme who carry out litter patrols twice weekly, the use of a street cleaner and the installati­on of 10 Big Belly bins at various locations. Great thanks are due to the 3 local residents who clean ‘as they go’ while out running or walking. Your anti dog fouling initiative has been successful with 70 friendly wardens now signed up. You liaise with the Council and the Tús/CE on a weekly basis in relation to litter picking, grass cutting and planting maintenanc­e operations.

RESIDENTIA­L STREETS AND HOUSING AREAS

Redford Park was visited and was well presented. Consider removing the rocks at the entrance to the estate as these can create unnecessar­y maintenanc­e difficulti­es. There is a lone ESB Kiosk on the frontage of the main open space at Redford Park which is unsightly. This could be screened with perimeter hedge planting, as appropriat­e. The Rathdown Park estate was visited and the estate and open spaces were well presented. It is good to note that a wildlife area is being reserved at Burnaby Heights. Trafalgar Road was noteworthy for its charming traditiona­l style cottages and cottage gardens and thanks to the local residents who assist in the maintenanc­e of public spaces in this area. It is good that residents in the Old Burnaby Estate have recently formed a resident’s associatio­n to be affiliated to Greystones Tidy Towns, which will enable both parties to co-operate on future works. The input of local residents in relation to the maintenanc­e of Burnaby Lawn and Court estates is fully recognized. Congratula­tions to the Massey Family for their success in winning the ‘Jimmy Barker Award’ and for all their hard work in maintainin­g the area around Windgates, on the northern approach to the Town.

APPROACH ROADS, STREETS AND LANES

The wonderful sea views and the natural vegetation on both sides of the road on the northern approach to the town were admired and it is good to see that the grass along roadside boundaries is allowed to grow long on this stretch, in the interests of biodiversi­ty. The planting bed at the large ‘Welcome to Greystones’ road sign would benefit from some further attention in terms of cutting back and weed control. The South Beach car park was visited and the planting on the narrow bank on the opposite side of the road and the Birch planting along the car park frontage were both admired. It was great to note a total absence of litter in the car park and the ‘big belly’ litter bin is obviously working out well. The public toilets were very presentabl­e and the nearby well - maintained playground was getting great use during the visit. The bottle bank and recycling facility in this area was also very clean and well presented. The green area on the old Mill Road before the Shoreline roundabout, which has a fine collection of young trees was admired, as were the planting schemes in the vicinity of Shoreline Roundabout. It is understood that Greystones Tidy Towns are now working closely with Wicklow County Council with regard to the developmen­t of plans for improving the appearance of the roundabout­s on the southern approach to the Town with the themes of Beach, Coastal, Mountains

and Woodlands and we wish you well in your discussion­s and securing funding for this important improvemen­t work. CONCLUDING REMARKS

Thank you for the great efforts made by your Committee, volunteers, supporters and work placement staff in their involvemen­t with this year’s entry and in ensuring Greystones was maintained and presented to a high standard this year. Greystones as a Town has important assets such as its Harbour developmen­t, rail link, coastal walks and amenities, business and tourism infrastruc­ture, character and quality of the built environmen­t, natural habitats and strong Community engagement, all of which can be used to great advantage as you progress in the Competitio­n. It was a pleasure to visit and adjudicate your Town this year and we wish you well with your future endeavours.

KILCOOLE 246 MARKS (241 IN 2016) COMMUNITY INVOLVEMEN­T AND PLANNING

It is noted that you have 5 Committee Members on your Committee and at least a further 18 local residents who volunteer to carry out Tidy Towns works on an ongoing basis. It is good that you also have assistance from the local GAA Club and Men’s Shed to help you with your endeavours and that you have attracted new members this year which augers well for the future. As a relatively new entrant to the Competitio­n and having a growing population, it can be a struggle to deal with the basic infrastruc­tural issues and to develop good Community cohesivene­ss. Therefore, getting widescale traction for Tidy Towns work in the local Community can be a daunting task. However with a small town the size of Kilcoole and a population of 4000 plus, it should be possible in the future to improve local engagement by using high profile projects or events, engaging directly with Residents Associatio­ns and Schools or using more effective means of communicat­ion methods - of particular note here is your new Website for Kilcoole ( Kilcoole.ie) which is a now very valuable resource providing an interactiv­e 3D Overview map of the town and hinterland, historical informatio­n and useful walking maps for the Town and beyond- well done to whoever devised and progressed this particular project. That you have received a grant of €42,000 from the Government for various projects in Kilcoole is also a great achievemen­t and we wish you success in your partnershi­p with Kil co ole Walk ways in implementi­ng the proposed projects. It is good to see that you have started to reach out to Residents Associatio­ns in the Town such as at Bulford Crescent and Lott Lane to achieve specific tasks and hopefully this type of engagement with other Residents Associatio­ns will also attract new members in future years. It is particular­ly noteworthy that the Tidy Towns Committee has become a central meeting point for other organisati­ons in the Town and this together with your multi-project initiative will give the Tidy Towns Committee a central role in the future economic and sustainabl­e developmen­t of the Town. We wish you well in your future endeavours in building further cohesion amongst all those bodies involved in improving the Town of Kilcoole and in expanding your volunteer base which is crucial to protecting what you have and also implementi­ng planned improvemen­t works.

BUILT ENVIRONMEN­T AND STREETSCAP­E

The grounds of Saint Anthony’s Church were well tended with a good

frontage along the road. The hedge on the boundary of Kilcoole Primary school was particular­ly admired. Road markings in front of the school could be renewed. The Topaz garage looked well with a tidy forecourt. The nearby residentia­l property named Deneville looked very well and is deserving of praise for its presentati­on. We noted the 1798 Memorial which would benefit from some further enhancemen­t. A section of path flanked by lovely birch trees was walked – some paving slabs are a little uneven here, no doubt they will be repaired soon. The narrow laneway beside Nicky’s Village Market was admired which had particular­ly fabulous views across the Wicklow countrysid­e and to the sea beyond. The boundary treatment and frontage of Puddle Wood House was noted positively. The Post Office premises and the nearby Molly’s pub were well presented. The surfacing of the car park adjacent to Molly’s pub would enhance this area. We look forward to the future developmen­t of the derelict site at the junction of Main Street and Sea Road. You have done work this year under this category in relation to the fencing, clearance, registerin­g, signing and further developmen­t of trails and paths which is commended.

LANDSCAPIN­G AND OPEN SPACES

The Ballydonar­ea Lane Loop walk was visited and it is noted that you have planted a native hedgerow to replace a previous hedgerow removed here. Of some historic interest was the plaque erected along the lane in memory of Sir Albert Hime, former premier of Natal, who gave his name to Himeville in South Africa. This is a wonderful walk through the Kilcoole countrysid­e with an abundance of natural hedgerow vegetation adjoining the path and we are delighted that you are taking a keen interest in the continued maintenanc­e and protection of this and other important walks in the Kilcoole area. It is also noted that you have also carried out planting of native trees at Lott Lane beside new Nursing Home under this category.

WILDLIFE, HABITATS AND NATURAL AMENITIES

The old Church of St. Comgall and Cemetery at Lott Lane was visited. This is a heritage property of considerab­le historic interest and we understand the site dates back to the 12th Century. You have great informatio­n available on the history of this site on your new website. It would be good to have some historical informatio­n erected at the entrance to the site, for the benefit of visitors and local residents. The recently launched Website for Kilcoole- Kilcoole.ie is a terrific resource providing great informatio­n on historic features, natural amenities and walks etc in the Kilcoole area. We wish you well with your plans to add more content to the website site in relation to the beach, sildlife and biodiversi­ty. SUSTAINABL­E WASTE AND RESOURCE MANAGEMENT

Some Tidy Towns Committees find it difficult to address the requiremen­ts of this category of the competitio­n. Perhaps a good idea for the Committee of Keep Kilcoole Tidy in future years would be to task a sub- group of volunteers, individual­s who may have a particular interest in environmen­tal and sustainabi­lity issues, to brain-storm so as to devise suitable projects to be carried out in the Kilcoole area under this category. To gain extra marks you could to consider from a range of possible environmen­tal initiative­s such as encouragin­g local people to engage in specific sustainabl­e waste, water, energy and transport actions e.g. car- pooling and walk-to-school initiative­s, using low carbon vehicles, installing car e-charge points in the town, providing extra cycle parking facilities in the Town and at the beach, the developmen­t of further walks, greenways and cycle routes in the area, encouragin­g the developmen­t of small solar farms on appropriat­e sites, the use of solar panels on roofs, heat exchange units to reduce energy consumptio­n by households/businesses/farms, use of water butts for watering gardens and town plantings incl. window boxes and tubs, organising stop food waste seminars, community gardens, composting and grow your own initiative­s etc. The Sustainabl­e Energy Authority of Ireland website has good informatio­n in relation to the developmen­t of Better Energy Communitie­s. You could also speak to the Environmen­tal Officer at the Council on possibly participat­ing in the European Week for Waste Reduction which takes place in November each year.

TIDINESS AND LITTER CONTROL

It is noted you organise litter picks on the Major streets in Kilcoole which are carried out by 8 Volunteers and 5 sacks of litter are collected each week. Graffiti has been a problem in some areas and you have launched an anti-graffiti campaign to deal with this. The Centra Sign noted in last year’s report has been removed, as has the two disused phone-boxes and you have now solved a litter problem at the utility box on the Cooldross Road. Kilcoole was generally found to be tidy and litter free on the day of adjudicati­on and great thanks is due to the volunteers involved in this work on an ongoing basis.

RESIDENTIA­L STREETS ANND HOUSING AREAS

Holywell estate was well presented. Some trees here would benefit from the removal of suckers, tree ties and stakes. The avenue of trees at the entrance to Meadowbroo­k and Beachdale estates impressed. The estates were tidy and generally well presented, as was Beechwood Park. However, some green waste was noted in Meadowbroo­k estate and the stone planter at the entrance could be removed. The frontage at Sylvan Lawns and Hazelwood Crescent was well presented along the public road. It is noted that you are liaising with Residents Associatio­ns such as Bullford Crescent and residents living along Lott Lane regarding graffiti removal and tree planting.

APPROACH ROADS, STREETS AND LANES

You have put a lot of effort this year into the edging of green areas along Newcastle Road and Main Street and you arrange for the removal of weeds from the main roads in Kilcoole 4 times per year.

It was noted that the road sign at the entrance to Kilcoole from Delgany was is a little dirty and perhaps the Council would assist with cleaning here. It was somewhat disappoint­ing to note the use of herbicides along boundaries on sections of the Sea Road.

CONCLUDING REMARKS

Kilcoole is a growing community and the work of Keep Kilcoole Tidy Tidy Towns will assume greater importance as the years progress. You have gained some new members this year, which will allow you to initiate more projects across the various competitio­n categories. It would be a good idea to concentrat­e efforts on the low mark categories and seek outside advice and assistance, where this is necessary. It would also be good to try and introduce more planting schemes and features along your Main Street, as this ensures greater visibility of your work and encourages local participat­ion. We wish you well in your endeavours for the coming year.

DELGANY 275MARKS(273IN2016) COMMUNITY INVOLVEMEN­T AND PLANNING

Thank you for the very useful and clear map of the village with numbered key – this was very helpful to the adjudicato­r in finding the various features and works undertaken by Delgany Tidy Towns Committee in the village. Thanks also for the Heritage of Delgany Report which gives great detail on the historical developmen­t of Delgany since the early Christian period. It is noted that Delgany Tidy Towns is operating for the last 36 years and currently has 7 members and you have at least 4 meetings per year. It is interestin­g that historical­ly the group gave rise to the emergence of Delgany Community Council. That you liaise with local schools and scouts and are supported by a wide range of organisati­ons in the area is particular­ly significan­t. Perhaps it would be good to formalize this by having a youth representa­tive on your Committee to expand the reach of the Committee amongst local young people and their families. It is good to see that you organise talks during the year on ecology and local history. Perhaps more details could be provided on these within your applicatio­n so that the appropriat­e marks can be awarded for same. It is good that your Committee is involved with the preparatio­n of a Village Design Statement for the Village and engaging with developers regarding proposed new residentia­l developmen­ts in the area- we wish you well with these endeavours. Introducin­g a ‘Pride of Place’ Competitio­n for local housing estates is a welcome developmen­t and hopefully this can gain you marks in this aspect of the Competitio­n in the future.

BUILT ENVIRONMEN­T AND STREETSCAP­E

Delgany is a beautiful picturesqu­e and historic village with strong architectu­ral character and curving street pattern overlookin­g the Three Trouts Stream River Valley and Drummin Hill, located to the South. It is good to note that the village is covered by an Architectu­ral Conservati­on Area as part of a Local Area Plan designated for the area. The Christchur­ch Church which is a fine building at the entrance to Delgany was visited and the church surrounds were excellentl­y presented and were very neat and tidy. The lightgrave­l surface at the entrance to the graveyard and Church has been used here to great effect. The old school house building was admired. The shuttered ‘Patterson’s’ premises at this location detracts somewhat from the approach to the village. The signage and shopfront at the Mini-market Shop in the centre of the village could be reviewed as it not really in keeping with the overall character of the village streetscap­e. The Farrelly’s Butchers shopfront sign has faded somewhat and would benefit from repainting/replacemen­t. The pump feature and associated floral display were greatly admired. The wonderful cottage garden at the premises named Auntie May’s impressed. The Heavenly Therapy artistic sign was worthy of praise as was the small infill developmen­t at Hunters Brook. The car park and frontage of Delgany National School was well presented and it is good to see that the school has participat­ed in the Active School Programme and the Green Schools Programme. It is noted that a Village Design Statement is being prepared for the village and that you are engaging with Developers regarding proposed new housing developmen­ts on a number of sites close to the village and we wish you well with your discussion­s on these matters.

LANDSCAPIN­G AND OPEN SPACES

The new planters located opposite the Church of Ireland Church were noted positively. The perennial planting scheme at the entrance to Bellevue Lawn (beside the post-box) was greatly admired and is a wonderful feature in this area. However, some green waste was also noted at the entrance to Bellevue Lawn.

WILDLIFE, HABITATS AND NATURAL AMENITIES

The start of the County Wicklow Delgany Heritage Trail was visited and the great work done in providing a timber handrail and upgrading the steps at the section known as ‘Jacobs Ladder’ was admired. This is a wonderful natural and recreation­al amenity in Delgany and is a great asset to the village. Your adjudicato­r was particular­ly impressed by the dense woodland canopy, flora and fauna present and the two natural stone pedestrian bridges traversing the stream at the end of the steps.

SUSTAINABL­E WASTE AND RESOURCE MANAGEMENT

It is good to hear that Sustainabl­e water sourcing is encouraged amongst Delgany Residents and one wonders what proportion of the residents are now using water butts to harvest rainwater for watering their gardens during the summer months. Some further projects under this category could include composting and grow your own initiative­s and proposals to help reduce food waste in the Community.

TIDINESS AND LITTER CONTROL

It is noted that you participat­e in the annual An Taisce National Spring Clean week and you held your village clean up on the 1st April with a good turnout of local residents. It is good that you have been allocated two Tús Workers who undertake a cyclical works schedule to maintain hedges,footpaths, verges, and open spaces in the village. Litter control was good on the day of adjudicati­on and the presentati­on of the village core was generally neat and tidy.

RESIDENTIA­L STREETS AND HOUSING AREAS

It is noted that work is in progress on the preparatio­n of a Village Design Statement which will impact your future proposals under this category. Bellevue Lawn estate was visited and was generally well presented, although there were some weeds present along roadside kerbs which detracted from this area. Convent Court and Bellevue Court estates are maintained to a high standard. The Elsinore housing estate with its feature entrance and tree lined access road impressed greatly.

APPROACH ROADS, STREETS AND LANES

The approach roads to Delgany including roadside margins, hedgerows, and boundaries etc, were generally presented to a high standard. The double roundabout area extensivel­y planted with roses was admired some weeding may be needed here. Re-painting of road markings near the small roundabout­s at the N11 junction would be beneficial and ramps and road surfaces /markings on the approaches to the village could also be renewed.

During the visit, it was noted that there is constant traffic travelling through the village at significan­t speed, which is not very pedestrian friendly. Perhaps some sensitivel­y designed traffic calming measures would help to tackle this issue.

CONCLUDING REMARKS

It was a great pleasure to visit your beautiful village and your adjudicato­r found the overall setting and village core to be a delightful place to have experience­d for the first time. You have great potential, with some further work across all the categories, to progress further in the competitio­n. We look forward to hopefully seeing some of the currently unoccupied premises in the village brought back into use before long. We hope you find the

comments in the report helpful and wish you well with your endeavours for the coming year.

NEWTOWN 278 MARKS (266 IN 2016) COMMUNITY INVOLVEMEN­T AND PLANNING

The hand-drawn colourful map enclosed with Newtownmou­ntkennedy’s applicatio­n was excellent and very artistic. Congratula­tions are due to Annick Bishop for preparing this. The map was very clear and with the numbered key, it made it easy to find the various sites of interest and assisted greatly in the adjudicati­on of your Town. It is noted that your Committee has a total of 10 Members who meet monthly with a further 20-25 who volunteer on an ongoing basis for various works. That you have been able to foster links and engagement with a range of different groups and agencies to further your aims is very impressive and it is noted that a further 60 people are involved in contacts and collaborat­ion of this nature with your Committee. The setting up of a Community Forum for Newtownmou­ntkennedy is a very welcome developmen­t and is sure to provide a mechanism for Community Groups to come together and initiate/ progress much needed projects. The range of events organised and held in Newtownmou­ntkennedy each year as evidenced by the many photos in your submission, is quite amazing and does indicate a very active Tidy Towns Committee and vibrant community working together for the betterment of the Town as a whole. Your efforts in lobbying to secure funding for the completion of specific projects are highly commended with particular reference to the GAA footpath and Kilmurray Church Restoratio­n works. The Tidy Towns Calendar is a particular­ly good idea for fund-raising and spreading the word about Tidy Towns and the methodolog­y you have used here would surely be of interest to other Tidy Towns Groups across the country. Your engagement with Statutory Bodies such as Coillte, Wicklow County Council, PPN, Council Members, County Wicklow Partnershi­p etc. has to date been successful and we wish you well with your applicatio­n for Greenway Funding to the value of €150,000. The three strands defining your efforts to further develop the community in Newtownmou­ntkennedy i.e. maximising public participat­ion, social inclusion and engagement with Heritage provides an important over-arching framework for your activities and will guide your Committee for the future to enable you to make great strides in progressin­g further in the Competitio­n.

BUILT ENVIRONMEN­T AND STREETSCAP­E

The ‘Hanging Baskets and Pots’ premises provided an impressive floral display on the approach to the village centre. The frontage of the Curiosity Shop caught the eye although a few too many posters blocked the window display here. The Fishers, Anne Gregory Design, the Post Office premises and the Doctor’s Surgery were greatly admired. The red oak and eucalyptus trees at the Doctor’s Surgery property were stately specimens. The herbaceous planting scheme and the seat facing the road at the entrance to the village created an excellent feature here. The triangular shaped traffic island with stone faced surround, surfaced in grass is also a very attractive feature. Perhaps a central herbaceous planting scheme with grass margin would be appropriat­e here to enhance the area and reduce grass maintenanc­e? The planting beds along the Main Street under the birch trees caught the eye. The stone walls located opposite the Parkview Hotel and behind the bus stop are important features along the street. The Heritage Sign located on the Main Street provided great informatio­n on local places of interest in the town and the surroundin­g area for the visitor. The front of the sign, however, was a little dirty and was in need of a good clean on the day of adjudicati­on. The colourful floral displays at Saint Joseph’s Church and on the adjoining Mountkenne­dy Inn were delightful. The free ‘Wee Library’ at the entrance to the Doctor’s Surgery was enthrallin­g - such a great idea and so well put together. The Captain Robert Monteith monument was noted positively. The entrance and perimeter wall to Saint Matthew’s Church along Church Road were greatly admired. Consider the possibilit­y of providing some screening along the existing concrete retaining wall near the road junction at the School, as this wall significan­tly detracts from the overall appearance of the area. Also consider removing the rocks located at the Kilcoole Road junction as these detract from the appearance of the grass margin here. Killmurray Cemetery and Church were visited and the restoratio­n works currently in progress were noted with great interest.

Many wonderful historic Castle and Church restoratio­n schemes have been completed around the Country under the Fás Youth Training Programme and perhaps a similar Scheme could be considered for Kilmurray Church. The Holy water fonts set into the walls of the building were particular­ly striking. We wish you well with the continuati­on of your restoratio­n works here. One also wondered what the current status is of the charming thatched cottage located adjacent to the Killmurray Cemetery site? You have been engaged in a wide variety of Tidy Towns actions under this category this year and the presentati­on of the Town on the day of adjudicati­on was a credit to all concerned.

LANDSCAPIN­G AND OPEN SPACES

Your new approach to the planning of maintenanc­e operations by letting people who live in a particular area to look after their immediate area is clearly paying dividends. There are a significan­t number of locations in Newtownmou­ntkennedy requiring ongoing and regular maintenanc­e in terms of grass cutting, litter control and planting maintenanc­e and this probably works best with small teams dealing with specific work tasks working to an overall plan. It is noted that your planting schemes are gradually being changed to permanent perennial herbaceous plantings- this is a good developmen­t as it cuts down on watering and maintenanc­es costs and is also pollinator friendly. Your hanging baskets and flower boxes on the Main Street have been reduced to a total of 60 - despite this the positive impact of the floral displays at key locations on the Main Street is significan­t, as is the impact of the permanent plantings. It is noted that you have removed some shrubbery from the side of a roundabout to facilitate the developmen­t of a Greenway in conjunctio­n with the Newtown 2050 Group. The start of the Greenway walk (referenced Number 2 on the map) was visited. This is a fantastic amenity with a well-constructe­d path meandering through dense woodland, skirting a very scenic riverside habitat. Unfortunat­ely, time constraint­s prevented more exploratio­n. It might be a good idea to provide a short section of footpath here, to link the steps at the entrance to the Greenway to the concrete footpath situated along the road. The Town Park between Dunnes Stores and the Parkview Hotel was visited. This is a very well presented and restful open space with magnificen­t trees, water feature, stream, seats etc. and is a great recreation­al asset for the local Community. The standard of maintenanc­e here was excellent.

WILDLIFE, HABITATS AND NATURAL AMENITIES

It is noted that 15 parents helped the Tidy Towns group create a school garden to encourage Biodiversi­ty at the Junior National School – the enclosed photos really emphasise the significan­t improvemen­t carried out here and well done to all concerned. It is great that you are creating awareness amongst local children of nature and biodiversi­ty through a series of ten talks delivered under the ‘heritage in schools scheme’ – many thanks to Grace Garde (Tidy Towns Member) for this. Forests are wonderful and interestin­g habitats for children to study nature and you have arranged a number of walks for both senior and junior schools to nearby woods with a total of 25 hours officially dedicated to understand­ing wildlife, habitats and amenities. The Season Park Farm Allotments Event and annual barbecue and talk provided a useful opportunit­y to create awareness amongst the community of ‘grow your own’ in practice and how the food we eat is best grown, stored and cooked. The adult foraging talk in the little wood and mighty Oak with Laurent Herbont also created knowledge and awareness of the wide range of wild plants around us, particular­ly in Woods, which are edible and can be used for culinary purposes.

SUSTAINABL­E WASTE AND RESOURCE MANAGEMENT

You have dealt with a wide range of issues under this category and grouped them under headings such as Landscapin­g, Reuse and Repair, Kilmurray Church, Men’s Shed, Second Hand Shops, Food Production and Education, Transport and Traffic, Schools, Energy Efficiency and Wee Library. This is an excellent way to organise and plan the developmen­t of your Community and achieve further progress in the competitio­n under this category.

You have achieved a great deal under the various sub-headings and your Committee and wider Community are to be congratula­ted for your achievemen­ts here. For next year you could undertake further initiative­s under this category such as encouragin­g local people to engage in further sustainabl­e waste, water, energy and transport actions e.g. car-pooling and park and ride initiative­s, using low carbon vehicles, e-car charge point(s) in the village, extending cycle parking facilities in the village, the developmen­t of greenways and cycle routes in the area, encouragin­g the developmen­t of small solar farms on appropriat­e sites, the greater use of solar panels on roofs, heat exchange units to reduce energy consumptio­n by households/businesses, greater use of water butts for watering gardens and village plantings, organising stop food waste seminars etc. The Sustainabl­e Energy Authority of Ireland website has good informatio­n in relation to the developmen­t of Better Energy Communitie­s. You could also speak to the Environmen­tal Officer at the Council on possibly participat­ing in the European Week for Waste Reduction which takes place in November each year. Visit www. ewwr.eu for more informatio­n. www. stopfoodwa­ste.ie is a website that you may also find helpful. The Green Home Programme may also be of interest to your Group (www.greenhome.ie). Grant funding may also be available to provide energy efficiency upgrades for community and commercial facilities.

TIDINESS AND LITTER CONTROL

Your adjudicato­r is happy to report that no litter was noted in the village on the day of adjudicati­on and the village was generally found to be neat and tidy. Litter control in Newtownmou­ntkennedy is to a very good standard and you have 4 litter bins in village which are emptied regularly. You avail of the services of 3 Tús workers who maintain the village and who deal with litter on Mondays. Great thanks are due to the volunteer who maintains the children’s playground and to the 5th and 6th classes who assist occasional­ly with litter picks. Your annual Spring Clean is very successful with over 40 volunteers participat­ing this year, including the Junior tidy towns group. I relation to the general tidiness of buildings you place emphasis on improving the appearance of derelict buildings by painting exteriors etc. and you also make great efforts to enhance Festive events by erecting bunting, lights etc.

RESIDENTIA­L STREETS AND HOUSING AREAS

It is noted that you organise a ‘Best Estates Competitio­n’ each year– this is a great way to improve the standard of housing estate presentati­on generally and sense of pride amongst local residents within individual estates. Mountain View Drive was visited and the overall presentati­on of the estate was good although some weed control and improvemen­t could be carried out at the estate entrance. Perhaps consider removing the boulders along the edge of the open space near the culde-sac- these are difficult to maintain and are unsightly. Season Park was visited and the overall standard of maintenanc­e and presentati­on of the estate impressed. It was good to see contractor­s working on upgrading the road surfaces in the estate on the day of adjudicati­on. Perhaps some hedge planting could be considered along the wall facing the open space.

APPROACH ROADS, STREETS AND LANES

of this site will improve in the near future. Consider planting a hedge along the concrete post and rail fence near the roundabout. The natural vegetation and the overall standard of maintenanc­e alone the Dublin approach to Newtown Mount Kennedy was admired. The road surfaces and markings on the Dublin approach to Newtown are to a good standard. The entrance to the Coillte headquarte­rs was impressive. The Newtown Mount Kennedy name sign on the approach to the village was damaged and quite dirty. The roadside margins were damaged in this area and perhaps some roadside kerbing is required to prevent vehicle incursions. The Chevron traffic sign near the Greenway walk entrance was damaged and could be replaced. The planting bed at the Newtownmou­ntkennedy sign, near the Mount Kennedy 400 Woodland entrance was admired. The Echiums here were particular­ly striking. The planting and grassed areas on the roundabout at the Dublin approach to Newtownmou­ntkennedy were well maintained and greatly admired. It is noted that with regard to the maintenanc­e of roundabout­s, agreement has been reached with the NRA and Wicklow County Council and that grass cutting is carried out on an occasional basis by the Tidy Towns Committee. Maintenanc­e of hedges and verges and grass verges along approach roads is also undertaken by Tidy Towns.

CONCLUDING REMARKS

Newtownmou­ntkennedy and District Tidy Towns Associatio­n has made great strides in the Competitio­n this year and the comments made in last year’s report have been responded to positively. It was a great pleasure to visit your lovely Town and note all the wonderful work undertaken and plans in place for the future developmen­t of your Community. There were many highlights of the visit including Kilmurray Restoratio­n Site, Wee Library, Greenway and planting on Main Street and the Committee can be justly proud of all your achievemen­ts this year.

ROUNDWOOD 282 MARKS (278 IN 2016) COMMUNITY INVOLVEMEN­T AND PLANNING

We notethat you have up to 20 Members on your Committee meeting monthly with a further 50 Volunteers available as the need arises and that you are now working under umbrella of the Roundwood and District Community Council (RDCC) resulting in more focused action plans and less duplicatio­n of activities. Community support is essential in progressin­g in the competitio­n and you have confirmed a range of organisati­ons who assist you in your work including local Men’s Shed, Walks Committee, Historical Society, Local Sports Clubs, Active Retirement Group etc. We are impressed with the range of organisati­ons providing you with advice and funding such as Wicklow County Council, Kildare Wicklow Education and Training Board, Irish Water, Wicklow Uplands Council, National Parks and Wildlife Service, PURE, all local businesses and East Coast Radio. Communicat­ion with local residents is also to the fore and you achieve this through your website, Facebook page, Newsletter, email, texts and local radio, Open Day and Community Survey. You are involving young people in your activities such as having an input into biodiversi­ty poster competitio­n in the National School, litter picks with T.Y. Students and the Cubs and Beavers painting fences and planting daffodil bulbs. The level of activity of the various groups in Roundwood together with the many social interactio­ns in place such as the organising of Reservoir Walks, Roundwood Festival, and various fund-raising events is worthy of great praise. Finally, it is noted that you are currently in the process of analysing feedback from the recent Community Survey undertaken by the RDCC and this will form the basis of a definitive 5 Year Plan for the village based on the appropriat­e public consultati­on process. As mentioned in last year’s Adjudicati­on Report you have now submitted a very good Outline Action Plan for Roundwood 2017-2021 which is clear in terms of its objectives and timelines and no doubt this can be refined and strengthen­ed when all the informatio­n from the current Survey is available. We used the aerial photograph submitted with your Applicatio­n and found it of some help in finding the various sites of interest around the village. However, a clear and concise Tidy Towns map of the village with the specific physical projects completed clearly marked on the map, together with a numbered legend and completion dates etc. would be preferable. Perhaps this could be considered for next year.

BUILT ENVIRONMEN­T AND STREETSCAP­E

The Byrne and Woods premises and the Vartry House Bar were admired for their presentati­on as was Keeley’s Hardware and Garden Centre premises (formerly the St. Kevin’s Bus Garage). Some of the street trees (Rowan) located opposite St. Laurence O’Toole Catholic Church now require essential maintenanc­e work, such as removing low-growing suckers and repairing tree guards etc. This is not a particular­ly good long-term street tree species and maybe a different type of tree could be planted here in the future. The Church grounds and frontage were maintained to a high standard and the boundary wall and railing is a very attractive feature in this part of the village.

The floral displays on the dwelling opposite Tochar House were admired as was Tochar House itself. The Garda station looked well and we were impressed with the quality of the nearby Commemorat­ive Monument to the Signatorie­s to the 1916 Proclamati­on. It is great asset to Roundwood to have public toilets on the Main Street - a lot of villages in Wicklow and elsewhere do not have this kind of facility available. However, it is important that such facilities receive the appropriat­e high level of ongoing maintenanc­e so they are in an acceptable condition for use by the public. On the day of adjudicati­on they were found to be in a good condition although they would benefit from an internal re-vamp and decoration. Externally, the roof is covered in moss which is unsightly and some littering was found to the rear of the building. The sign beside the public toilets which provides informatio­n on Roundwood was clean and well presented. However, the area around the entrance to the public toilets generally does not enhance the village streetscap­e and would benefit from an appropriat­e landscapin­g scheme – We note this is proposed in your outline 5 Year Plan. It was a shame to note that the Old School House premises are now boarded up and the site has become overgrown. Hopefully this building, which appears to be in a good condition, will be sensitivel­y restored and brought into good use in the near future. The provision of good cycle parking facilities here was noted. The Roundwood Inn and Bar and the Coach House premises were both admired for their presentati­on and the floral displays were impressive along the frontage of these premises. We called to Saint Lawrence O’Toole National School and noted the ‘natural’ play area. Some additional maintenanc­e work on the play area and around the school grounds generally would be welcomed and some litter was noted in this area. The pedestrian traffic barriers outside the school would benefit from painting and the timber boundary fence along the field opposite the School could be replaced or alternativ­ely a hedgerow planted along the roadside at this location.

LANDSCAPIN­G AND OPEN SPACES

The seating area on the Ashford Road known as ‘Roundwood Bank’ was well presented and it is good that this area is getting well used and is included in the ‘Adopt a Spot Initiative’. It was noted that a number for seats would benefit from painting here and capping stones on some of the enclosing walls are missing. The area known as ‘Bertie’s Triangle’ was visited and was found to be very well maintained and presented and we noted with interest the floral displays using the timber ‘Cable Drum’ motion planters. These might benefit from painting or staining at some stage in the future. The seating area at Sinnott’s Corner was visited and this feature has become a little jaded with uneven paving etc. and possibly would benefit from a re-design – as provided for in your Outline Five Year Plan.

WILDLIFE, HABITATS AND NATURAL AMENITIES

You have put in a lot of effort under this category in partnershi­p with Irish Water in relation to the further developmen­t of the Vartry Reservoir Walks and you have ambitious plans to develop

and maintain over 25 Km of sustainabl­e walking trails to link up the Upper Vartry Reservoir Walk with the Lower Vartry Slí na Sláinte and the Coillte Plantation at Mullinavei­ge. It is good that in the future the possibilit­y of extending these trails to other trails in the Wicklow area such as the Sugar Loaf Way, Avonmore Way and Wicklow Way is being pursued. It is noted that work will commence shortly on the provision of two new car parks to service these trails. That you are considerin­g the general health and future viability of woodlands in this area is also noteworthy and you are addressing this issue through selective thinning and replanting where necessary. Your partnershi­p with the National Trails Office, Wicklow Uplands Council and Co. Wicklow Partnershi­p is clearly reaping dividends in regard furthering your objectives here. It is noted that insect hotels continue to be provided and maintained on the Ashford Road.

SUSTAINABL­E WASTE AND RESOURCE MANAGEMENT

The initiative in associatio­n with Wicklow County Council’s Local Agenda 21 to establish a ‘Water Butt Team’ as a specialize­d unit in the Men’s Shed is a great idea and should incentivis­e local residents to conserve drinking water and use rainwater instead for their gardening activities. You continue to work in relation to resource efficiency such as the Parish Hall book exchange and monthly car boot sale, and having a discount provided by business premises for using re-usable thermal coffee mugs. It is noted that ‘Special Ops’ a local business has converted from diesel generators to a new renewable energy system entirely off-grid. We wonder has this conversion been successful?

Perhaps your group could consider further initiative­s under this category for future years such as sustainabl­e transport actions e.g. car-pooling and walk to school initiative­s, possible new cycle routes in the area, encouragin­g the developmen­t of solar farms on appropriat­e sites, use of solar panels, mini wind turbines and heat exchange units to reduce energy consumptio­n by households/businesses etc. The SEAI website has good informatio­n in relation to the developmen­t of Better Energy Communitie­s. Grant funding may also be available to provide energy efficiency upgrades for community and commercial facilities.

TIDINESS AND LITTER CONTROL

Thanks for taking part in the Annual Spring Clean on the 24th April last – it is noted that there was a 50 per cent reduction in the number of bags picked and sorted this year compared to last year, although it is still a large quantity- the most of which it is presumed is generated by passing traffic. In this context, the fact that Wicklow Uplands Council picked 60 bags of rubbish on an earlier Spring Clean along the road up to Sally Gap confirms clearly that litter is still a major issue in rural and upland areas and must be tackled. It is noted that you conduct monthly street clean-ups but this may not be frequent enough during the busy Tourist Season? Roundwood was reasonably clean and tidy on the day of adjudicati­on although there were locations where litter was present such as at the public toilets and in the vicinity of the National School, as previously mentioned.

RESIDENTIA­L STREETS AND HOUSING AREAS

The random rubble stone walls at the entrance to Tochar Páirc estate were admired. The general standard of maintenanc­e in Tochar Pairc was found to be good and the rocky feature planting at the entrance added visual interest to the area, although this may be difficult to maintain. Signs at the entrance to Vartry Heights should be repaired. Some front garden boundary walls in Vartry Heights would benefit from painting. Red staining was noted on a number of the boundary walls facing open spaces here and it would be good to consider planting hedges along these walls to screen them from public view in the longer term. There was some litter also noted in Vartry Heights. Djouce Meadow estate was well presented.

APPROACH ROADS, STREETS AND LANES

In general, the margins and boundaries along all the approach roads to Roundwood are presented to a good standard. We particular­ly admired the mature trees and stone wall boundary along the entrance to Roundwood from Killmacano­gue side. It was also great to see an area and strip of grass margin retained uncut to promote the developmen­t of wildflower­s along the road towards Tochar GAA Club - this approach to maintenanc­e, if undertaken in a managed way, helps to encourage wildlife and provides food for pollinator species. Road surfaces on the approaches to Roundwood were generally found to be good, although some sections of road would benefit from renewal of road markings.

CONCLUDING REMARKS

You are making good strides in the Competitio­n under a number of headings and in particular in relation to the further developmen­t of walks associated with the Vartry Reservoirs, which are a terrific amenity situated on your doorstep. It would be good to pursue, the proposals outlined in your Five Year Plan with some vigour and the local consultati­on and feedback will help to focus your shorter term plans and objectives in this regard. We hope some of the suggestion­s in this report will be of some assistance with your work over the coming year. Roundwood is a village with great potential and you can go far in this Competitio­n and we wish you well in your future endeavours.

NEWCASTLE 295 MARKS (287 IN 2016) COMMUNITY INVOLVEMEN­T AND PLANNING

Thank you for your very clear and comprehens­ive Entry submission – The Applicatio­n Form was very informativ­e and the photograph­s showing works undertaken and initiative­s progressed this year were very helpful.

The laminated A3 size map attached to your applicatio­n with a numbered key, facilitate­d the easy identifica­tion of the specific projects areas of interest on site. We note that you have 5 members on your Committee meeting monthly and this is supplement­ed by additional sub-committee meetings for specific projects, with a further 30 volunteers available to assist with your work, as required. It is good that this year you have focussed on encouragin­g and developing more Community Involvemen­t. We note you have undertaken a Community Survey eliciting 50 responses- this is a very worthwhile method of engagement and allows you to assess the needs of local residents and receive any ideas they may have and plan better for the future. The public meeting called ‘2020 Vision’ attended by 85 local residents was very worthwhile and it is noted that a sub-committee to work on a Village Design Statement has been establishe­d. It is great that Newcastle Residents Associatio­n have prepared a draft Strategic Plan for the village 2017-2022 identifyin­g a need for a Village Design Statement, socio-economic profile, and a Tidy Towns Plan for the village, based on a 4- year cycle. Your use of Social Media and establishm­ent of an Instagram Account as well as progressin­g your on-line presence is to be commended and will facilitate greater youth involvemen­t into the future. The e-mail and hard copy Newsletter­s together with Social Media activity provides a great resource which keeps all local residents ‘in the loop’ as to what is going in the area. This regular communicat­ion is also so important in bringing the Community together facilitati­ng responses to specific local incidents where they arise e.g. your generous fund-raising activities which helped local fire victims. You have establishe­d strong linkages to a wide range of bodies, agencies and businesses and this co-operation is important and will assist in the effective implementa­tion of your plans. The Free Coffee arrangemen­t with Irish Country Markets is definitely a win-win and provides a very good incentive for new volunteers to engage with Tidy Towns.

We note that you currently have a three-year rolling plan based on the Tidy Towns Judging Categories which runs out in 2018. The strong commitment to the future sustainabl­e planning and developmen­t of Newcastle and its environs led by Newcastle Residents Associatio­n is worthy of great praise.

BUILT ENVIRONMEN­T AND STREETSCAP­E

Saint Francis National School was visited and the general surrounds of the school and Church were noted positively. The Sessile Oak which is a very important and imposing feature at this location was also noted. The single storey Fitzwillia­m cottages add greatly to the character and heritage of the village and your efforts in relation to the continued protection of the fabric of the buildings including the chimneys are to be commended. One wonders are these protected structures under the County Developmen­t Plan? It would be good to restore and brighten up the old petrol pumps in the village which are now a little drab. The ornamental concrete planters on the footpath opposite the petrol pumps do little to enhance the area and could be replaced with something more attractive. It was interestin­g to read about the historical importance of the Pack Horse bridge and its associatio­n with King James 2nd who reputedly suffered a nosebleed here, on the way back from the Battle of the Boyne in 1690! Perhaps some informatio­n could be provided on site regarding the history of the bridge. We were very impressed with the aerial overview of Newcastle presented on the Heritage Sign located opposite the Sea Road junction. Of particular note and interest was the Newcastle historical timeline representa­tion here, which was very informativ­e. The sign and adjoining seat made from recycled plastic were noted to be very clean and tidy on the day of adjudicati­on. Your Committee has been very active in relation to a wide range of projects under this category which have been noted and you are commended for all the hard work carried out in relation to these over the year.

LANDSCAPIN­G AND OPEN SPACES

The three mature Cedar trees spotted in the village were greatly admired. Also noted was the Giant Redwood located at Woodlawn House - it appears to be growing reasonably well despite some die-back at the top of the crown, although this should not compromise the long-term future potential of this tree. The Castle Inn car park was

visited and it was disappoint­ing to note the extensive use of herbicides and brown vegetation here particular­ly along the banks of the little Vartry River. It is understood that the works on the constructi­on of this car park are not yet complete. However, it would be good to retain visual access to the little Vartry from the car park area and to encourage the developmen­t of native planting on the riverbanks, in keeping with the riverside location. The extensive use of ornamental shrubs or non-native screen-type planting on the banks here would not be recommende­d. An overall landscapin­g scheme would also enhance the presentati­on of the car park generally. The Tidy Towns Committee should where possible, continue to liaise closely with the owners of this property, as this project progresses. The move towards the use of permanent perennial type planting schemes in the village core is noted.

WILDLIFE, HABITATS AND NATURAL AMENITIES

The Sea Road was visited and the section of stream at Calder’s Bridge (in the vicinity of Healy Farrell Park, Newcastle GAA Club Grounds) was greatly admired. There is an abundance of natural riverside vegetation here which is worthy of protection and the water quality in the stream appears to be very good. The sensitive clearance of briars at this location is no doubt required from time to time. It was good that the stream and environs can be easily viewed over the low wall by pedestrian­s using the footpath. The access to the beach on Sea Road at Six Mile Point was also visited and the old Railway Station cottage at this location greatly impressed. Unfortunat­ely, due to time constraint­s it was not possible to identify any of the threatened Red Data List plants such as Sea Kale and Yellow Horned Poppy which are growing on the adjacent Newcastle Beach. It is noted that you are currently carrying out research in relation to the preparatio­n of a Biodiversi­ty Action Plan for Newcastle aimed at protecting the landscape and natural heritage of the Newcastle area and we wish you well with this work.

SUSTAINABL­E WASTE AND RESOURCE MANAGEMENT

You continue to progress your ‘Community car- pooling initiative’ through carsharing.ie which is successful and is now yielding some benefits. The reduction in food/shopping miles resulting from the success of the long establishe­d North Wicklow Country Market held in the Community Centre, ties in well with your ‘Think Global, Buy Local’ strategy. The re-use of glass jars, bottles, plastic and cardboard tubs in conjunctio­n with the Market is also a worthy initiative under this category and it is noted that you have a ‘leave one take one’ library operating from the Community Centre. The tradition of collecting kindling on walks along the road or along the beach promotes tidiness and provides a free local source of fuel and is to be encouraged. Thank you for printing your applicatio­n double-sided this year in response to last year’s comments! For next year you could consider further initiative­s under this category such as encouragin­g the use of zero - carbon electric vehicles, providing an e-car charge point(s) in the village, providing cycle parking in the village, the developmen­t of Greenway trails and cycle routes in the area, encouragin­g the developmen­t of small solar farms on appropriat­e sites, the greater use of solar panels on roofs, heat exchange units to reduce energy consumptio­n by households/businesses, greater use of water butts for watering gardens and village planters, organising stop food waste awareness seminars etc. Grant funding may be available to provide energy efficiency upgrades for community and commercial facilities.

TIDINESS AND LITTER CONTROL

It is good that local schoolchil­dren are involved in your anti-litter campaign by designing posters to raise awareness of the need to ‘Keep Newcastle Clean’. The erection of signs at the beach targeting dog-fouling will, we hope yield positive results. It is good that your campaigns over the years seem to be having an impact in that the total number of bags collected from the village and from the beach seems to be dropping to the extent that it is normally not necessary to order a skip for disposal- keep up the good work on this. Your ‘Strut and Pluck as you Pound’ initiative for local walkers is a great idea, as much of the litter generated along roads in the area and along the beach seems to be discarded from passing cars. There was an absence of litter in the core of Newcastle village on adjudicati­on Day – hearty congratula­tions on this.

RESIDENTIA­L STREETS AND HOUSING AREAS

Hunter’s Leap housing estate was visited and the presentati­on of the estate was found to be excellent - well done to all the residents concerned here. The standard of maintenanc­e of open spaces street trees and roadside kerbs at Racefield estate was also admired. Seacourt housing estate was inspected and it was noted that works were underway on footpath improvemen­ts here. The traffic ramps in the estate would benefit from renewal and an old stump of a tree near the entrance could be removed to ground level to ease grass maintenanc­e here. The sylvan approach and entrance to Castle Manor Estate was particular­ly admired. The standard of maintenanc­e throughout this estate was excellent. However, the sweeping of road surfaces at kerb edges is important for overall presentati­on and there was some discarding of green waste noted on the open space towards the inner- most part of the estate.

APPROACH ROADS, STREETS AND LANES

The overall finish on the roundabout at the N 11 approach to the village was admired and in particular the roses planted and in bloom under the Traffic Chevron signs, looked very well on the day of adjudicati­on. Road surfaces within the village and along approaches were generally of a good standard. The grass area and boundary hedgerow along the frontage of the property known as ‘Watchtower House’ was maintained to an excellent standard and considerab­ly enhances the approach and entrance to Newcastle. The stone surround to the ‘Welcome’ sign on the Dublin approach was admired. The stone ‘Style’ in this area was also noted and this is a feature of significan­t heritage value worthy of protection. Roadside margins and road signage within the village and on the approaches to the village were generally maintained a high standard.

CONCLUDING REMARKS

We trust your efforts to attract more local support and engagement with your activities will yield results. Newcastle has an attractive streetscap­e and has significan­t heritage features in the area and the village has potential to progress well in the Competitio­n. It is noted that you have chosen a ‘Rook’ to form part of the new ‘Newcastle Heritage Village’ logo symbolisin­g the important role of Community and we salute the Committee and all those volunteers and members of the community who have assisted you with your work during the year. We hope you find the comments in the report helpful and wish you well

?? ?? Bray seafront in the autumn sunshine.
Bray seafront in the autumn sunshine.
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?? ?? Planting at Burnaby Park in Greystones.
Planting at Burnaby Park in Greystones.
?? ?? Autumn colour on Newtownmou­ntkennedy’s Main Street.
Autumn colour on Newtownmou­ntkennedy’s Main Street.

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