Tidy Towns 1999

"Caring for our environment"

Centre : KNOCKBRIDGE County : LOUTH Category : B

Results Date of Adjudication : 05-06-99

Maximum Mark Awarded Mark Awarded Mark 1999 1998

Overall Developmental Approach 50 41 39

The Built Environment 40 28 27

Landscaping 40 26 26

Wildlife and Natural Amenities 30 28 27

Litter Control 40 27 27

Tidiness 20 15 14

Residential Areas 30 28 23

Roads, Streets and Back Areas 40 31 30

General Impression 10 8 7

TOTAL MARK 300 232 220 Knockbridge, County Louth

OVERALL DEVELOPMENTAL APPROACH The progress of your Development Plan makes impressive reading. The brochures of the shared Oriel Trail, the Stephenson Pond, and in particular the Knockbridge Rural Village, are all admirable. Now that the village has reached the higher level in the Competition, you will find that increases in marks are much slower and harder to come by: this is a factor common to all centres which do exceptionally well and is not a matter to be despondent about. When drawing your map, please be sure in future to mark all sites which should be visited - for example, Martin's Cross is not shown and could easily have been missed. Congratulations on obtaining substantial developmental grants.

THE BUILT ENVIRONMENT Certainly as good as last year. It is good to see that important items of artistic merit, such as the Clarke and Mayer windows in the Church, are given prominence. The completion of the Burns House will be greatly looked forward to.

LANDSCAPING The landscaping continues to be sensitive and attractive. The neighbourhood of the School continues this good tradition. Floral displays were looking very well on adjudication day. Knockbridge is one of the few places where roses are well nurtured.

WILDLIFE AND NATURAL AMENITIES It was a real pleasure to see Stephenson Pond win the National Wildlife Award last year, and it is good to note from the questionnaire that restocking has been an important part of this year's activity. It was equally encouraging to see a considerable number of visitors enjoying the amenity on adjudication day.

LITTER CONTROL As last year, control is quite good, and your leadership is clearly most effective; it was a pity to see an appreciable amount of disposable litter on adjudication day - this is probably not the norm, but it is all we can judge by.

TIDINESS The village was looking tidy. Be careful when poisoning weeds; dead brown foliage can look as unattractive as the weeds themselves, for example, at the Car Park. It is a matter for congratulation that the derelict site has been removed.

RESIDENTIAL AREAS Homes throughout the neighbourhood are looked after with real pride. The estate at Knockattin, with its lawns, planting and seating, was one of the best of its kind seen this year.

ROADS, STREETS AND BACK AREAS Surfacing is good - footpaths specially noted. This adjudicator can not recall the previous street lighting but assumes that the standards in position are new. There does not appear to be a signpost for Knockbridge on the busy Dundalk-Carrickmacross road.

GENERAL IMPRESSION A community brimming with vibrancy and vitality.

SECOND ADJUDICATION (08/08/99) Congratulations on the new sculpture piece; this is quite stunning and we look forward to its surrounding area being landscaped. All approach roads into the village were presented to the highest standard on second adjudication also and flower displays together with permanent landscaping were a visual treat. Something should be done about the derelict site at St. Martin’s Cross. The design of newly developed properties is sensitive to the existing stock of buildings in the village, well done! The landscaped banks marking the entrance from the Ardee Road were looking just a little bare on the evening of second adjudication. These may need to be replanted for next year. Sign posting for the Oriel Trail is both effective and discrete. The generous stands of Firethorn at the walls of the sports grounds and Drummonds Ltd. must look quite stunning in May and in September when they flower and produce berries. Some consideration might be given to featuring a seasonal display of indigenous wildflowers on verges between Stephenstown Pond and the village. Litter control is excellent.