Tidy Towns Competition 2013

Adjudication Report

Centre: Duncormick Ref: 2062

County: Wexford Mark: 269

Category: A Date(s): 18/06/2012

Maximum Mark Mark Mark Awarded Awarded 2012 2013

Overall Development Approach 50 34 34 The Built Environment 50 38 38 Landscaping 50 39 40 Wildlife and Natural Amenities 50 21 21 Litter Control 50 41 41 Sustainable Waste And Resource Management 20 6 6 Tidiness 30 19 20 Residential Areas 40 28 28 Roads, Streets and Back Areas 50 34 34 General Impression 10 7 7 TOTAL MARK 400 267 269

Overall Development Approach: Welcome Duncormick Area Action Group, to the 2013 Supervalu Tidy Towns Competition. Your entry is very much appreciated. Your entry form is very concise. Please use all of the space provided. Your 3-5 year plan made interesting reading. The map was useful but please name everything of interest e.g. RIC building, etc. Given that you are in population category A – 200 or fewer to have a committee of 16 shows that community support for the Duncormick Action Group is very strong. The frequency of your meetings is appropriate for a group and village of your size. You list only 3 support agencies – Wexford County Council, Wexford Local Development and Airtricity. Thank you for the newspaper cutting and the newsletter. These will be returned to you. We note that there is no school in Duncormick. Well done to your group for attending the course “Training in Village Renewal” and well done to Wexford Local Development for organising it. Your points about how your community has benefited from the competition are well made. We wish Duncormick Area Action Group continued success in the Supervalu Tidy Towns Competition.

The Built Environment: Duncormick has some heritage buildings which are part of the essential character of the village. The built environment also includes structures such as the old bridge, village pump, etc. The old Church of Ireland Church is impressive and deserves to be looked after. It is in a key location in the village. The steps up to the Church are an important feature and the landscaping beside them was admired. Sinnott’s thatched pub is eye-catching. Well presented. The old AA sign adds to its character. How precisely distances were measured in those days – Dublin 108 ½! Post Office is neat and tidy. Opposite is an attractive stone wall with a black village pump standing in an alcove and a well filled planter adding to its impact. Unoccupied 2 storey building at the bridge has been nicely treated to minimise its impact. Conifers growing in front of it soften the impact. The old bridge shows signs of recent repairs to its parapet and the collapse of part of the bridge wall was noted. The treatment of the derelict cottage is effective and the old milk stand was noted. These have been restored in other villages in Wexford, complete with vandal proof churns.

All of the residences/premises from the bridge to the Church of Ireland Church are well presented. The 1798 commemorative stone on the landscaped area beside the steps at the old church was noted. Disused school is becoming an eyesore. Could the owner be persuaded to screen it? Saville’s Lodge is impressive with lots of colourful shrubs for year round effect. Large car park tidy. The attractive landscaped feature beside the lodge is difficult to categorise. It is included here rather than in the landscaping category. It is a standout feature in the village that merits attention being focussed on it. The adjudicator photographed the village extensively and the photos of this feature are his favourite. The centre pieces are a beautifully restored old industrial weighting scales and a black sculpture in silhouette of a cow, man and pig. An attractive stone wall provides a boundary on 3 sides with a gravel bed on top which is well planted. There is a large raised bed to the front also well planted. Grass is neatly cut and trimmed. Overall, the dimensions are in scale to its surroundings. A delightful feature. Saville’s Lodge is impressive with lots of colourful shrubs for year round effect. Large car park tidy. The attractive landscaped feature beside the lodge is difficult to categorise. It is included here rather than in the landscaping category. It is a standout feature in the village that merits attention being focussed on it. The adjudicator photographed the village extensively and the photos of this feature are his favourite. The centre pieces are a beautifully restored old industrial weighting scales and a black sculpture in silhouette of a cow, man and pig. An attractive stone wall provides a boundary on 3 sides with a gravel bed on top which is well planted. There is a large raised bed to the front also well planted. Grass is neatly cut and trimmed. Overall, the dimensions are in scale to its surroundings. A delightful feature.

Landscaping: Landscaping in Duncormick is to a high standard throughout. Maintenance of the landscaped areas at the Taghmon/Kilmore Quay junction was underway on adjudication day. They are very well maintained and define the landscaping for the rest of the village. The elements are simple in themselves but they combine to make a major statement at this key approach to the village. The post and rail fence and picnic tables/benches are clean and well maintained. Grassed areas are neatly cut and trimmed. Flower beds/shrubs look well. At the end of the village, opposite where the milk stand is, there is an attractive landscaped area which uses an old stone wall as a backdrop. A different type of landscaping, more of a rockery but equally delightful to the eye. In between, there are more planters around the village. Out on the Taghmon road the entrance to a field is landscaped. The native trees planted between the wall and the post and rail fence opposite the old church were noted. Your plan to plant fruit trees in the autumn is commended.

Wildlife and Natural Amenities: The adjudicator visited the riverside area below the bridge which has been partially cleared. It has potential as an amenity area, including a riverside walk in due course. The addition of information boards would be of great benefit. Good luck with your grant application to WLD. A habitat survey would be a good start. Often these are done in partnership with a local school that is in the Green Flag Programme, but you do not have that option. There is useful advice and tips in the Tidy Town Handbook. There are a number of useful web sites such as birdwatchireland.ie. Wexford County Council will have someone to advise on the environment/wildlife. This is an area where you can score marks.

Litter Control: An Taisce’s Spring Clean Week tends to be the start of the annual anti-litter programmes in many towns and villages. Well done for taking part in this year’s event. The litter bins are clean. The CE scheme worker is making a contribution. Use the parish newsletter to promote anti-litter awareness. The community seems to be anti-litter conscious because there was no litter evident on adjudication day.

Sustainable Waste And Resource Management: This is a category that gives new entrants some difficulty. Please start with the waste pyramid in the entry form. In terms of priorities elimination is at the top and disposal is at the bottom in terms of priorities. Duncormick Area Action Group should promote best practice in preventing waste from entering the village. Tips and advice are in the Tidy Towns Handbook. There are also useful web sites e.g. greenhomes.ie, stopfoodwaste.ie. Also, use the parish newsletter. You mention developing a community composting area. You should contact the Environmental officer in Wexford County Council before you proceed any further with this as you may find that you need a licence.

Tidiness: Well done in getting the local authority to put down rumble strips as part of traffic management in the village. Generally, road surfaces are good and signage is ample and clean. Electricity transformer – noted that grass had been cut. The demolition will enhance the main street when it is finished. The commercial operation at the bridge does result in a cluttered, untidy collection of motor vehicles on both sides of the street. Otherwise Duncormick is a tidy, attractive village.

Residential Areas: There are many fine residences on the approach roads to Duncormick, some with well stocked gardens, old stone walls/hedges. The village itself has a mix of housing styles and eras reflecting its age. Terraced cottages and the old RIC building are “old” Duncormick, while Sli Chormaic is an award winning modern housing development. There are 3 more traditional types of residential neighbourhoods – St Anne’s Villas, Rectory Grove and Rectory Mews. Each is well presented. It would be invidious for this adjudicator to compare them. Each makes its contribution to the village. Given the current state of the economy Duncormick is unlikely to have any commercial/residential developments thrust upon it in the immediate future.

Roads, Streets and Back Areas: Approach roads to Duncormick provided a good first impression of the village. Village name stones are bi-lingual, clean and are appropriately sited. Road surfaces are acceptable and verges are tidy. There were no issues in this category on adjudication day.

General Impression: General Impression: Duncormick is an attractive, small village. Given the size of its population and its limited number of commercial businesses, financial resources will always be an issue. Duncormick Area Action Group should note and take heart from the success of small villages in the Supervalu Tidy Towns Competition. Recent small village winners include Emly, Co Tipperary, Tallanstown, Co Louth and last year’s winner Abbeyshrule, Co Longford.