Tidy Towns Competition 2007
Adjudication Report
Centre: Celbridge Ref: 338
County: Kildare Mark: 227
Category: G Date(s): 19/06/2007
Maximum Mark
Mark Awarded 2007
Overall Development Approach 50 30
The Built Environment 50 29
Landscaping 50 27
Wildlife and Natural Amenities 50 30
Litter Control 50 25
Waste Minimisation 20 7
Tidiness 30 16
Residential Areas 40 28
Roads, Streets and Back Areas 50 28
General Impression 10 7
TOTAL MARK 400 227
Overall Development Approach:
Celbridge is most welcome to the 2007 National Tidy Towns Competition. Thank you for your comprehensive
submission and open letter to the adjudicator. The letter made interesting reading and was insightful into how
the committee feel regarding their progress over the last few years and an apparent shortfall in help from
statutory bodies. The adjudicator wishes the committee and the community in general every good luck for the
future and urges you not to feel discouraged as you have a beautiful town with a strong heritage and some
wonderful features so it is important that you continue to build on what has been achieved to date. Your
partnership approach with various bodies is appreciated and your work with local schools has not gone
unnoticed either.
The Built Environment:
A lot has been achieved for the built heritage of Celbridge in recent years which can only improve the towns
status in the public eye. Well done on the re-roofing of the Mill Community Centre and also on the outcome of
your negotiations with Tesco Ireland. We look forward to an increase in bilingual signs to enhance the built
environment of Celbridge. The grounds of commercial premises on approach roads were admired and in
particular those of Weatherford and Innothera. We wish you every success in the implementation of your
proposed plans under this heading.
Landscaping:
Stands of mature trees which graced the Dublin approach road are handsome and form an excellent
introduction to Celbridge. The latter was complemented by the old stone roadside boundary wall of the
Orchard Garden Centre. Recently planted trees are acknowledged and hopefully they will get an opportunity
to mature. New planting to the roadside of the Aldi outlet was in full bloom as were flower displays in the town
centre particularly at the Old Mill; the grotto is a lovely feature. Your difficulty regarding the funding of grass
cutting is appreciated. The Famine Graveyard initiative is exciting. We wish you every success regarding the
presentation of commercial premises not listed by the adjudicator. Your ongoing Adopt a Tree programme
initiative is worthwhile.
Wildlife and Natural Amenities:
The Donagh Cumper graveyard was admired in respect of its excellent roadside boundary walls, its semi
mature trees inside and its neat grassed areas and well organised car parking outside. Some dead trees
need to be either removed or under planted, those noted by the adjudicator included two Yew trees and one
old pine. The installation of bird feeders on trees at the back wall of the Famine Graveyard are noted, well
done. It is good to note that an environmental consultant has been retained to advise on the identification and
protection of sites of ecological importance within Celbridge. This is the type of initiative that is necessary to
protect against development pressures. Congratulations to the schools, which have achieved Green Flag
status, and the planting of a wild flower meadow on the Clane Road. No doubt the introduction of ducks onto
the River Liffey are a great attraction to youngsters. We wish you every success with the development of the
proposed Sli na Slainte walk together with the proposal to reopen the amenity park at Celbridge Abbey to the
public. Hopefully your discussions with the Board of Works will bear fruit regarding the safe development of
the river walk at Castletown House.
Litter Control:
Litter control was excellent throughout the town. Some lapses in control were noted on the Maynooth Road
and on the main street outside the Londis premises; some takeaway litter was noted on the road edge near
St. Patrick’s Park (Church Road). Congratulations on Celbridge’s participation in the Annual Spring Clean and
your twice weekly litter pickups within the town, it is good to note the participation of the schools in this regard.
Continue to encourage local residents to take responsibility for litter control in their own area. Do keep us
informed of the results of your litter survey as this can be a source of additional marks.
Waste Minimisation:
It is good to note that litter picked is segregated for recycling and reference has already been made regarding
the Green Flag schools. We wish you every success in identifying an appropriate site for a recycling facility in
Celbridge. Well done in particular on your waste minimisation strategy and the successful website for this.
Your leaflets on Composting Best Practice to all households in the town is an excellent initiative.
Tidiness:
It is good to note that all-day parking is no longer allowed along the main street and the improvement in the
visual amenity of Celbridge as a result, the appointment of a traffic warden has been effective. A couple of
untidy entrances were noted on the Dublin Road, which no doubt will be improved upon re-development. The
entrance to Donagh Cumper Riding School might be resurfaced to good effect. Work in progress was noted
on the new Tesco store. The overall appearance was one of tidiness with good weed control. However,
some weeds were still in evidence along footpaths but this was not a serious problem.
Residential Areas:
The organisation of an inter-estate table quiz open to the thirty six residential estates within Celbridge is
excellent. Your Best Kept Estate Competition no doubt makes an important contribution to the excellent
appearance of most estates. The name stone which marked the entrance to Beatty Park was most attractive
together with its flower displays and Vanessa Lawns was admired for its well-maintained grassed verges and
young trees; the entrance to the Oldtown Mill was admired also. The overall standard under this heading is
good.
Roads, Streets and Back Areas:
Your Approach Road Manager scheme is quite novel, it appears to be effective in maintaining approach roads
to Celbridge to a good standard. Your Tidy Towns designated phone line is an excellent initiative also. The
Dublin Road looked quite well in respect of road and footpath surfaces together with high stone walls. The
Maynooth Road was also well surfaced with a good footpath and cycle lane. Street furniture is being nicely
maintained and their bright red colour is attractive, timber bollards were admired.
General Impression:
Your plans for the sculpture in the Famine Graveyard together with the Meadow Grass Development are
exciting and we look forward to visiting this in the years to come. Well done on a fine performance this year.
Results for Category G 2007
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Place marks Town
1) 296 Letterkenny
2) 295 Ennis
3) 292 Kilkenny
4) 275 Carlow
5) 270 Clonmel
6) 269 Tralee
7) 268 Newbridge
8) 264 Naas
9) 259 Ballincollig
10) 254 Portlaoise
11) 250 Leixlip
12) 248 Wexford
13) 237 Douglas
14) 235 Mullingar
15) 227 Celbridge
Athlone
16) 225 Ballymun
17) 215 Clontarf + Bull Island
18) 202 Glasnevin
19) 200 Dundrum
Rathfarnham
20) 197 Santry
21) 195 Artane