Tidy Towns Competition 2007

Adjudication Report

Centre: Rathangan Ref: 383

County: Kildare Mark: 266

Category: C Date(s): 17/06/2007

Maximum Mark

Mark Awarded 2007

Overall Development Approach 50 45

The Built Environment 50 33

Landscaping 50 38

Wildlife and Natural Amenities 50 29

Litter Control 50 29

Waste Minimisation 20 11

Tidiness 30 17

Residential Areas 40 25

Roads, Streets and Back Areas 50 31

General Impression 10 8

TOTAL MARK 400 266

Overall Development Approach:

Rathangan is welcome to the 2007 National Tidy Towns Competition. Thank you for your submission. We

wish you well in the achievement of your Tidy Towns’ objectives and congratulate you on achievements to

date in this and other competitions, well done. It is good to note that you work in conjunction with other

groups and agencies and that you work so closely with the schools.

The Built Environment:

Rathangan is blessed with handsome period houses some of which still retain their traditional features. It is

good to note that Drummond’s Mill has been sold for development, well done on your negotiations with the

developer to ensure the objectives for the town are met. The monitoring of major planning applications is a

proactive approach. The resurfaced avenue at the Church of Ireland together with improvements to the door

are acknowledged. Now that you are performing at a higher level in the competition, it would be appropriate

to have a word with retailers regarding the use of security shutters for windows; ideally these should be see

through and internal lighting should be used at night, which will encourage window-shopping and enhance the

streetscape, the solid shutters have a deadening effect outside business hours. You might also continue to

encourage shop owners to remove signs positioned above fascia level signs.

Landscaping:

On the day of adjudication the roundabout on the Edenderry Road was quite weedy, this should be

incorporated into your landscaping plan. Silver birch trees along the street in the centre of the town are

handsome and must look well in winter. The overall standard under this heading is good with landscaping

throughout the town and at Newtown. The church car park, which at the time of adjudication was large and

bare, would benefit from landscaping also. Congratulations to the girls’ school for their work in relation to

container plants at the church and the Maura Laverty flowerbed. The boys’ school are to be commended also

for their work on their own gardens and the BM Croker flowerbed. The herb bed at the canal and the bed at

the bottom of the town bridge, which is the responsibility of the post-primary school students is an excellent

initiative. Your winter and spring planting in Tannery Park is appreciated. Perhaps we could have the

recording of bird song at some stage in the future.

Wildlife and Natural Amenities:

It is good to note your awareness of wildlife habitats both within the village and also its environs along the

canal, river, the bog, wood and nature lanes; this no doubt will play an important role in the protection of

threatened habitats. Your work on Killinthomas Wood sounds promising particularly the creation of new

walkways and we look forward to a similar proactive approach in relation to the Slate River project.

Litter Control:

The overall standard of litter control in Rathangan for adjudication was excellent. We note from your

submission that approximately 70 litter pickers have been distributed over the last few years plus additional to

schools in order to have everyone involved in litter control. Well done on your participation in National Spring

Clean and the relatively large number of people involved. It is good to note that the litter is segregated for

recycling purposes. Well done also to Kildare County Council for the installation of four new litter bins along

the main street. Your liaison both Kildare County Council and with the management of Tougher’s is

acknowledged.

Waste Minimisation:

Congratulations are due on the special award achieved by Rathangan for being only .1% behind the overall

winner in the county in 2005 and well done on the seminar for small businesses and waste management

together with the distribution of a booklet. Your recycling containers are noted. It is good to note your

awareness of the Civic Amenity Centre in Edenderry for all household waste. Your replanting policy when

managing flowerbeds is interesting and of course useful, not to mention the arrangement with the Bog of Allen

Nature Centre who sell your unwanted plants. These and other initiatives are acknowledged together with

your visits to business interests regarding waste generated by them. Finally, your composting initiative

particularly those involving the schools is most welcome and the open compost heap is an excellent idea.

Your Bring Bins are acknowledged.

Tidiness:

The town itself particularly the centre was tidy. A number of sites are in urgent need of development or at a

minimum screening to their roadside boundary. Of particular note under this heading is the N Conlan & Son

yards. A number of derelict premises are in evidence. No doubt given your proactive approach in every other

respect the committee will be successful in dealing with this. We note that you have approached Kildare

County Council regarding derelict premises.

Residential Areas: