Newcastle

event of a cardiac emergency or if you’ re interested in installing a public access defibrillator in your area then please call 087 2060383 for further details.

The AGM for Newcastle Community Centre will take place on Tuesday, October 17, at 7.30 p.m. followed by the AGM and ordinary meeting of the Newcastle residents’ association. Everybody is welcome to attend both meetings and if you are interested in getting involved either in a big way, or a small way, come along on the night or even better contact Michael Carey 087 2381060 or email him here.

The development of closer co-operation between Newcastle residents’ association (NRA), Newcastle Community Centre and other organisations in Newcastle is on the agenda. Recently staff from the Bray Partnership engaged with personnel from the community centre, the NRA and other organisations within Newcastle in order to see if it is possible for the different entities to work more closely together in the interests of the village generally. The matter is likely to be aired at both AGMs.

Everybody is welcome to attend both meetings and if you are interested in getting involved either in a big way, or a small way, come along on the night or even better contact Michael Carey 087 2381060 or email Michael.

TIDY TOWNS

Once again Newcastle has increased its performance in the Tidy Towns competition with 295 points compared with 287 in 2016. The performance has shown a consistent improvement each year since 2010 when a score of 250 was achieved. The result is a credit to the way in which the village has been consistently maintained by a small core of volunteers backed up by larger numbers during our village clean day in the spring and the involvement of children in the successful anti – litter campaign, including the annual beach clean-up.

The judges, who visited the village on June 28, were particularly impressed by a number of issues including; the high quality of our highly informative application form and our efforts at enhanced communication; the degree of community involvement and engagement and the successful fundraising initiative for the fire damaged house.

Other positive comments related to the lack of litter; our beautiful cedar trees, the giant Redwood tree at Oaklawn and the old Sessile oak at Old Fort; the attractive roundabout and its blooming roses adjacent to the N11; the landscaping around Watchtower, the stonework surrounding the welcome signs to the village, the high maintenance standards achieved by the Hunter’s Leap and Racefield estates and the attractive sylvan approach to Castle Manor estate. The installation of new footpaths in Seaview was also noted. The section of the Little Vartry River and its surrounds along the Sea Road around Calder’s Bridge, and the Healy Farrell GAA entrance also drew positive comment as did the use of perennial plants throughout the village.

While we continue to score poorly for sustainable waste and resource management. The judges also commented on the enhanced relations with residents generally and in particular the North Wicklow Country Market describing both as a win – win situations.

Suggestions for improvements included the need for a landscape plan for the new pub car park and the tidying up of the adjoining the Vartry River; the restoration of the old petrol pumps; the development of walkways, greenways and cycle paths, the renewal of traffic ramps, signage surrounding the Pack Horse bridge on Church Lane, the collection of rainwater, the use of small solar farms in the area and the installation of a e-car charge point in the village.