Tidy Towns Competition 2009
Adjudication Report
Centre: Newtownforbes Ref: 910
County: Longford Mark: 223
Category: B Date(s): 26/06/2009
Maximum Mark Mark Awarded 2009 Overall Development Approach 50 37 The Built Environment 50 29 Landscaping 50 31 Wildlife and Natural Amenities 50 16 Litter Control 50 27 Waste Minimisation 20 7 Tidiness 30 16 Residential Areas 40 24 Roads, Streets and Back Areas 50 29 General Impression 10 7 TOTAL MARK 400 223
Overall Development Approach: We welcome Newtownforbes back to the National TidyTowns competition! Best of luck to the newly formed committee and thank you for your detailed application, which included a very helpful sketch map to facilitate the adjudication process. We would encourage you to submit a 3 year planned work programme next year when you are more established. We note you have applied for funding to produce same. Well done on your monthly meetings and strong links with local agencies, businesses and schools. Well done also on your efforts to get your message out there through use of local press, church notices etc. Already it is evident that you have a good approach to the competition and to the sustainable development of your community going forward. You were right to enter the competition at this early stage as it is all about year on year improvement and will give you some guidance as to where to go from here.
The Built Environment: The new railings fronting St. Paul’s COI church are to be welcomed. Well done on paying attention to appropriate colour schemes when taking on any new initiatives. The plans for the former Convent Chapel are to be welcomed. It is good to note that your are making submissions to the updated County Heritage Plan. It’s a pity that the former secondary school is still boarded up but you are doing everything within your control and it would look somewhat better if the hoardings are painted. Many of the businesses on the main street looked well including Casey’s pub, Bell’s butchers, Smiths Shop and the post office/Bell’s Foodstore. The church has a prominent position on the corner of Sligo Rd and Main St and was well presented with an attractive stone wall and black railing. The National School looked well, your plans to paint the railings outside are noted, this is definitely required very soon. The GAA complex could do with some planting to soften the hard landscape.
Landscaping: Landscaping: Your success in receiving provisional funding for your planting strategy is noted. The area in front of Eden House with its mature trees and flower beds is beautifully maintained. The GAA complex could do with some planting to soften the hard landscape. Trees would be of benefit along the Longford approach road. Try to plant native species wherever possible in order to encourage wildlife. The memorial garden in the Corry Park estate is an attractive feature. It is definitely a good idea to brighten up the concrete flower pots to make them more visually attractive. There is some nice planting around the Castle Gates area. Your plans to plant new flower beds on approach roads will help to better define and enhance your village. We look forward to seeing the results of your planting strategy next year.
Wildlife and Natural Amenities: There is great potential to encourage wildlife in the village environs and you could incorporate a wildlife survey/project into one of your 3 beautiful amenity walks. You are lucky to have such as variety of habitats on your doorstep – woodland, raised bog and the river. Your plans to look into the idea of a wildlife survey are welcomed, possibly in conjunction with the local school. This would definitely be a great starting point as to what is around you and what could be promoted in your awareness/information material. Your plans to contact the local Birdwatch Ireland branch should help. Further tips and advice is available on www.TidyTowns.ie or from your local Heritage Officer.
Litter Control: Well done on your weekly litter picks and your liaison with the County Council. It is acknowledged that litter from passing motorists and fly tipping in the surrounding back rounds presents a challenge, however all looked well presented on adjudication day. Replacement bins will enhance the streetscape when installed. It’s a pity that the Recycling bank had to be removed but hopefully by next year the community and Council will have agreed on an alternative site. Castle Gardens looked reasonably well on the day, the open spaces were well maintained and there were just a few small pieces of litter evident. Awareness raising is an important part of this category so you should work on some ideas for next year.
Waste Minimisation: Congratulations to the local primary school on achieving their Green Flag. It would be important for a village this size to have a replacement bottle bank site as soon as possible and for all clean up materials to be segregated as much as possible. Your plans regarding both are noted. The main goal under this category is to reduce the amount of waste produced by the community. Maybe you could link in with the local school to run a community waste awareness initiative, such as a waste survey, to get a grasp of the waste issues you are dealing with. It might also be useful to organise a community talk on home composting/waste minimisation. The Council’s Environmental Awareness Officer should be able to offer advice
Tidiness: Generally the village was presented to a high standard. Well done on working with the Council on various projects to enhance the town further under this category. Your efforts to have the missing bollards outside Castle Gates replaced and the missing glass panel at the bus stop replaced are acknowledged. Weeds are a problem in places, as you acknowledged yourselves, often close to residential areas. The road surface in Clonguish Court is bad and green areas very overgrown and untidy looking. The clean up organised by residents recently is acknowledged. Castle Crescent is another unfinished development and the attractive Caislean Breac estate is marred by the unsightly house at the entrance corner. Your efforts to pursue these issues with the relevant bodies are acknowledged.
Residential Areas: Many of the residential estates, even the older ones, do not have name signs to identify them but it is noted that you have received a provisional grant for signage on estates. These should be in Irish and English. Most estates were well presented. There is the problem of unfinished developments and unoccupied houses in newer estates. This makes it frustrating for the existing residents when trying to maintain and improve the areas, eg Castle Crescent. We look forward to seeing the young trees in Castle Glen and Mahon Avenue maturing over the next few years. Lios Breac Close was well presented apart from weedy surface and kerbs, you just need to make sure that the thriving shrubbery on the right hand side is kept tidied back from the roadway. Railway Court just needs attention to weeds along verges. Here and a few other areas such as Jones Lane would benefit from tree planting to try and further soften the landscape. Castle Park was well presented on the day with only one piece of litter evident. There was an overgrown green area at the back of this estate. Although leaving some grass areas long encourages wildlife, maybe the verges could be tidied up to avoid it looking neglected, it’s about striking the right balance. Woodview Estate looked particularly well maintained and full of colour.
Roads, Streets and Back Areas: Roads, Streets and Back Areas: Many improvements have been made in this area and approach roads/hedgerows/shrubberies/signage were well maintained. Well done on working in conjunction with FÁS and on various efforts to enhance the appearance of your all important Main Street. The black and white railing at the corner of Lismoy Road and Main Street needs attention. So too does the back area of Caisleán Breac that faces onto the N4, as it looks very untidy and overgrown and you drive into town. New footpaths and street lighting are noted. A name sign on the Killashee Road would better define the village, verges were a little untidy here also.
General Impression: Newtownforbes has grown dramatically in size in recent years which presents its own challenges. It is also on the busy national primary route with busy traffic going through it all day. A great start has been made by your newly formed Tidy Towns committee and you are taking the right approach by working together with all the appropriate agencies for maximum community benefit. We look forward to seeing the many new housing developments finished to a high standard and blend into your lovely village. It is important that new and existing Residents Associations are encouraged as much as possible to work with you and support your efforts. Well done on a great start and best of luck going forward.