Tidy Towns Competition
2019
Adjudication
Report
Centre: Boyle - Mainstir na Búille
County: Roscommon
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Ref: 290
Mark: 294
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Category: D
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Date(s): 29/06/2019
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Maximum
Mark
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Mark
Awarded 2018
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Mark
Awarded 2019
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Community – Your Planning
and Involvement
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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
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Tidiness and Litter Control
|
90
|
50
|
51
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Residential Streets &
Housing Areas
|
50
|
32
|
33
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Approach Roads, Streets
& Lanes
|
50
|
39
|
40
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TOTAL MARK
|
470
|
289
|
294
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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.
