Castlebar maintains momentum in making town look better
Castlebar increased its overall performance by 12 points in the national Tidy Towns competition 2023, ensuring it of retaining its gold medal accolade for the fifth successive time with a total of 364 marks from a maximum of 550.
Alan Mee, chairperson of Castlebar Tidy Towns, welcomed the recognition of achievement.
He said: "For the fifth year in a row, Castlebar has picked up a gold award at the national Tidy Towns competition. This represents a great achievement for the town and reflects the hard work of all our volunteers and indeed other community groups. I thank all those who keep the county town looking so great."
An edited version of the report, under a number of different headings, is as follows.
Community - Your Planning and Involvement
The voluntary work undertaken by Castlebar Tidy Towns and the projects completed deliver clear benefits for the whole town.
Additionally, the personal connections created provide the greatest benefits to the local community in Castlebar.
A very strong aspect of your submission is the enthusiastic involvement of new residents in Castlebar with your projects and ongoing work programmes which creates an enriching experience for the whole community.
Mark: 54 out of 80 (increase of two points).
Streetscape and public places
The quality of the shopfronts to various properties and commercial premises overlooking the Market Square was to a very high standard and property owners are to be commended for this.
Perhaps further pedestrianisation and exclusion of cars in this area, where possible, could be considered for the future.
The passing car traffic and noise still dominates this area, impacting general walkability and creates a ‘not so cycle or pedestrian friendly’ environment.
The newly planted flower beds added a welcome splash of colour to the stone tree surrounds and the tidy towns volunteers involved with this enhancement are to be commended for their work.
The nearby Ellison Street and Market Street have also been upgraded as part of a previous street enhancement scheme and the adjudicator noted the use of high-quality materials such as natural granite paving on footpaths and pedestrian - friendly traffic calming ramps.
The hornbeam street planting adds to the quality of the streetscape.
However, some of the trees seem to be deteriorating in condition perhaps due to lack of nutrients in the soil medium and may need to be replaced in the not-too-distant future.
The Bridge Lane improvement scheme was excellent. The use of materials and colour scheme and overall finish is exemplary.
This has created a wonderful sheltered meeting space in the centre of the town, which no doubt will attract further development and commercial activity to the area.
Substantial provision for cycle parking has been made, reflecting its connectivity to the local greenway and the provision of sustainable access.
The side wall of the Elvery's premises, which overlooks this space, is quite prominent and perhaps this can be ameliorated with the use of suitable climbing plants or vertical green wall planting.
The lower Charles Street enhancement scheme was visited and the adjudicator admired the improvements carried out to make the area safer for pedestrians with the installation of pedestrian friendly traffic calming ramps, road re-surfacing, new limestone kerbing and cycle stands.
The flower planting in the raised beds beneath the Sorbus trees greatly enhanced this area. The nearby link road skirting the military barracks site has also been extensively upgraded and improved.
This section of roadway is characterised by attractive stone walls, well finished footpaths, cycle tracks and road surfaces.
It may be necessary in the future to remove the heavy growth of ivy on the existing stonewalls facing the road, as these walls may deteriorate over time.
The large car park at the Castlebar Social Services CLG could be enhanced by the introduction of tree planting, where space is available.
The recently introduced floral display by Castlebar Tidy Towns at the junction of Castle Street greatly enhanced this area.
The existing hornbeam trees are an important feature along the roadside here and add greatly to the quality of the streetscape.
The presentation of the frontage of Castlebar Garda Station, Green Bay B&B premises and the nearby County Library were particularly admired and well done to all those who have been involved with the maintenance and presentation of these premises.
The power washing of paved areas in the spring each year along the main thoroughfares in the centre of the town could considerably improve the presentation of these areas, in advance of the busy summer months.
Mark: 49 out of 80 (increase of one point).
Green Spaces and Landscaping
It was good to stroll along the linear open space located in the vicinity of the Castlebar river, close to Marsh House.
The wonderful stands of mature trees and the extensive natural aquatic vegetation along the river provided significant interest.
The many nest boxes attached to the wall overlooking the river adjacent to the Dunnes Stores premises were also positively noted.
The planting of a screen of trees along the river, to the rear of the Dunnes Stores premises, would improve the overall presentation and wildlife value of this linear walkway.
The Lough Lannagh enhancement works undertaken by the Community Clean Up volunteers were to the fore, and this much-loved part of Castlebar was greatly enjoyed.
The lakeside footpath from the car park to the pedestrian bridge was in pristine condition and the views to the lake and wider landscape were outstanding.
Much of the floral displays provided in Castlebar included Begonias and other annual bedding plants. Reducing your use of these seasonal bedding plants for such displays is an important initiative for consideration for the future.
Colourful perennial and pollinator friendly plants like Alstroemeria spp. can be used to very good effect as an alternative to the flamboyant butlabour/water/energy-intensive annual bedding plants such as Begonias and Petunias.
Mark: 51 out of 80 (increase of one point).
Nature and Bioversity In Your Community
A key project carried out this year under this category was the creation of an ‘urban forest’ in the Town Park.
Well done to all those involved, including Aurivo, 1st Mayo Scout Troop, the International Protection applicants and regular volunteers.
The planting of hundreds of native trees, over four weeks, at a location which is susceptible to flooding has the effect of improving biodiversity, carbon sequestration and hopefully will create a nature-based flood protection system.
Mark: 44 out of 55 (increase of one point).
Sustainability - Doing More with Less
A major project for the Castlebar Tidy Towns Committee over the past year under this category has been the setting up of the Castlebar Sustainable Energy Community, for which a grant of €20,000 was awarded by the SEAI - very well done.
The next step will be the completion of an Energy Master Plan for Castlebar which is now in progress.
The Tidy Towns committee’s role in assisting in the creation of a baseline model of energy usage in the town and undertaking a community-wide survey and engagement with the community and providing a roadmap for sustainable energy usage will be crucial.
Mark: 28 out of 55 (increase of two marks).
Tidiness and Litter Control
It is fortunate that Castlebar generally does not have a major litter problem.
The clean-up activities involving young people such as Foróige and the Scouts around McHale Road, Moneen, Springfield and Town Park areas have been a success and is a very beneficial exercise.
The open space at Marion Row was visited and the adjudicator noted the wonderful work carried out by the Castlebar Community Clean-Up Group to clean the stream, which was in a pristine condition.
Mark: 60 out of 90 (increase of two points).
Residential Streets and Housing Areas
The main focus in this category included undertaking clean ups and estate enhancement works at various housing estate locations in the town including St. Bridget’s Crescent, Blackfort Manor, John Moore Road, Lower Charles Street, Marian Row and Rathbawn Road river clean ups.
Engagement with An Garda Siochána to improve the marking and security of expensive tools at Fortlands Estate, an initiative which could be extended across the town, was noted.
The adjudicator called to a number of housing estates in Castlebar including Rathbawn Drive, Knights Park, Heather Vale, Victoria Park and generally the maintenance of the estates was to a good standard.
It would be beneficial to organise a tidy estate’s competition in the town, to provide consistent standards of presentation and an incentive for resident’s groups to enhance the appearance of their areas.
The presentation of the roadside junction at Garryduff Park was admired.
Mark: 38 out of 55 (increase of one point).
Approach Roads, Streets and Lanes
It is noted that a significant amount of time and resources is devoted to dealing with litter on the main access roads into Castlebar.
Hearty congratulations are due to all the Tidy Towns volunteers who care deeply about their environment and who are happy to work together to help remove large quantities of litter from the N5, Westport Road, Old Cemetery, Newport Road, Breaffy Road and on the various roundabouts at the entrances to the town.
There is no doubt that without this work and the dedication of your volunteers the presentation of Castlebar would be greatly diminished.
A number of roundabouts need further maintenance and attention and perhaps a redesign of these will reduce maintenance requirements in the future.
The roundabout on the Westport approach and at the Lawn Road junction were particularly attractive, despite the minimum of maintenance.
Mark: 40 out of 55 (increase of two points).