freepdfconvert.com

Tidy Towns Competition 2019

Adjudication Report

Centre:     Boyle - Mainstir na Búille County:     Roscommon		Ref:     290 Mark:     294
Category:    D		Date(s):     29/06/2019
	Maximum Mark	Mark Awarded 2018	Mark Awarded 2019
Community – Your Planning and Involvement	60	42	42
Streetscape & Public Places	60	37	38
Green Spaces and Landscaping	60	42	42
Nature and Biodiversity in your Locality	50	32	33
Sustainability – Doing more with less	50	15	15
Tidiness and Litter Control	90	50	51
Residential Streets & Housing Areas	50	32	33
Approach Roads, Streets & Lanes	50	39	40
TOTAL MARK	470	289	294

Community – Your Planning and Involvement

Thank you very kindly for your entry form and the accompanying map and the adjudicator was very pleased to be back in the historic and heritage town of Boyle as it has been some time since he last visited.

You seem to have added to your committee number since last year and this positive as a Town the stature of Boyle needs a strong and proactive Tidy Towns Committee.

Hopefully you will be able to add to this number over the coming years.

A volunteer core of up to 30 is quite an impressive number of people to be able to call upon to do practical tasks. You have strong links with Roscommom County Council, other relevant agencies and most importantly the Town Team of Boyle who probably act in a similar capacity as a Chamber of Commerce.

The methods of communication are varied and relevant to your needs and one notes that you use Boyle Today as a social media platform.

This has a good up-to-date presence online.

What’s App is also a good mechanism to get your message out to the volunteer group and it saves time and cost provided potential recipients are on the said medium.

Last year’s report referred to the fact that you were in the throes of forming a Junior Tidy Towns Committee. What’s the up-to-date position on that one?

The adjudicator would reiterate what was stated in last year’s report in relation to the preparation of a 2/3 year work plan.

A work plan gives a committee focus and deadlines to work to; it doesn’t have to be elaborate just something that one can measure your work progress over a period of time.

20 years entering the competition is an achievement in its own right so well done on this.

Streetscape & Public Places 

The Regeneration Plan for Boyle has been well publicised and it’s wonderful to see that this historic town will be subject to a raft of positive changes as part of this regeneration.

This programme is being driven by the Boyle Town Team and the adjudicator is wondering what input has the Tidy Towns Committee in the process.

Your links with Boyle Town Team need to be explained in more detail for next year’s competition.

During the adjudication day the old Royal Hotel, which was required by Roscommon County Council for a €100k, looked as if it was up for sale again as a for sale sign was posted up on the Gable end wall!

Local knowledge has it that it will not be retained as a hotel and that it was originally built on a flood plain. Rather confusing to say the least.

The following are a number of other observations made by the adjudicator that appealed for a number of reasons and that were commented upon in line with the adjudication guidelines.

Much activity was taking place at the GAA Grounds on Abbeytown Road as the All Ireland Feile U 14 Football Finals were taking place.

This area of the town was very well presented and of course has Boyle Abbey as the towns main historical focal points.

St Josephs RC Church and expansive parking area and grounds were presented in exemplary fashion

It looks as if the existing Bell Tower, mentioned in last year's report, is due to be replaced by a new judging from the planning notice that was recently put in place

Schools in this area were also well looked after but the parking area at the Rehab premises was a little rough and would benefit from a bit of basic re surfacing.

The memorial and information panel for Stewarts Diesel Engine at the exit for Tubbercurry is an interesting historical artefact and it has a nice planting arrangement to add effect.

Sean Carty Car Sales Premises nearby is a good example of a tidy and well run establishment, well done to the owners for the manner in which they have presented their premises.

St. Patrick Street has a number of what seems to be unoccupied premises that could fall into a further state of affairs if not addressed.

One assumes that the Committee is aware of problem that bedevils most towns and villages. Maybe consultation with the Town Team on the matter is the first step on this one.

Not easily solved and in most cases outside the remit of any voluntary group.

The following is a cross section of shop fronts that engaged the adjudicator for one reason or another:

James Clarke a licensed premises and restaurant synonymous with Boyle and on the aforementioned St. Patrick Street was very well presented.

The Spool Factory a modern co working hub of substance fits very well with the existing built infrastructure. McDonagh’s on Bridge Street has a very fine shop front, simple in design but very appealing.

Wynnes Bar on Main Street was festooned with Rossies bunting and flags.

Brogan’s Pharmacy, Boles, Boyle Country Meats and the very impressive W J Sloan Hardware all deserve mention for the manner they have presented their business premises.

The Crescent area of the town which is the hub of activity has an array of well appointed shops, cafes and bars that were very well presented also.

The adjudicator visited the King House and embraced its history and to finish off the visit had a very nice relaxing coffee at the excellent cafe on the grounds.

The adjudicator also noted the house where actress Maureen O Sullivan was born and McNamara’s nearby has an interesting history as it was originally old RIC Barracks.

The road surfaces, footpaths and street lighting were in the main in good condition and the skyline is clear of unsightly telephone wires which one assumes were all put underground over time.

Overall the standard under the guidelines of the competition was very good and merits an increase in marks.

Green Spaces an Landscaping 

The planting arrangement that included an abundance of lavender at the Stewart Diesel Engine was well maintained.

The information panel giving a history of the Stewart Family and its association with the diesel engine added to the attractiveness of that corner area.

The Crescent has an abundance of colour with the combination petunias and begonias amongst others seen at their very best on the day in question.

It was good to note that you use replaceable pots to ensure all year round effectiveness.

The Shilling Hill Roses were admired by the adjudicator when he visited the Abbey Town area of Boyle.

The hanging baskets that you mention were noted as one traversed both the centre and the immediate side streets. Many businesses have taken it upon themselves to provide additional window boxes and this added to the colour that emblazoned the town on what was a very fine summers day with an odd shower thrown in for good measure. The entreaties or entrances to the town will commented upon in the last category.

The adjudicator did notice that one or two shrub beds were either struggling or a little overpopulated with shrubs that need to be thinned back.

One would concur with last year’s adjudicator in that it would benefit the town if the Committee could set the wheels in motion to find a suitable location to have its own poly tunnel.

Could you meet with the Town Team to discuss the idea and maybe get both the scouts and the Men’s Shed involved as well.

While on the subject the Men’s Shed Group could also be asked if they would consider making suitable timber tree boxes and planters.

You might consider these options as part of a mini planting plan that this adjudicator thinks is needed for the town. Overall the standard was good but there is more potential to be realised in this category.

Nature and Biodiversity in your Locality /

Well done on taking the initiative to set up a sub group in this category and we look forward to seeing developments in the coming year.

You have mentioned a few areas that you will concentrate on when your group has put together a plan of action. You’re very lucky to have a myriad of wildlife habitats available to you and during his walkabout the adjudicator took in a number of these.

The number one wildlife attribute that you have is the wonderful Boyle River.

The adjudicator had stopped at Knockvicar Bridge to view the river in all its splendour.