Adjudication Report

Marks Awarded (of 400 available) 270 (268 in 2007)

Droichead Nua or Newbridge
Your Town - It's easy to make a difference

Newbridge Town Park / The Liffeyside Amenity Area was presented with the National Waterside Award in the National Tidy Towns Competition 2008.

The commendation stated:
Communities in Ireland are defined by their people not their geography. This award is in recognition of the people and businesses who have collaborated as a community to work to improve their environment, foster civic pride and make their town a better place to live, work and visit.

Ní hé an tíreolaíocht a chuireann aithne ar pobail na hÉireann, ach na daoine atá ina gconaí iontu. Tugann an bhronnadh seo aitheantas ar leith dóibh siúd, muintir na háite agus comhlachtaí, a tháinig le chéile chun a gcuid timpeallacht a fheabhsú, bród síbhialta a chothú agus áit cónaithe, oibrithe agus cuairte níos fearr a dhéanamh as a mbaile féin.

This award was presented to Newbridge by the Minsiter for the Environment Mr. John Gormley TD, and sponsored by The Heritage Council / An Chomhairle Oidhreachta.

Newbridge was also awarded a Bronze Medal in its population category, the third such award received by the town in the National Tidy Towns Competition.

Competition Section	Maximum Marks	Marks 2006	Marks 2007	Marks 2008
Overall Development Approach	50	44	44	46
The Built Environment	50	32	35	36
Landscaping	50	37	37	37
Wildlife and Natural Amenities	50	26	30	30
Litter Control	50	21	25	26
Waste Minimisation	20	14	14	14
Tidiness	30	15	15	15
Residential Areas	40	26	28	29
Roads, Streets and Back Areas	50	31	33	29
General Impression	10	7	7	8
Total Marks	400	253	268	270

Overall Development Approach:
Thank you for the completed entry form with the very well presented additional information and the most useful map which in turn was suitably annotated. The visual significance of the river bridge with its fleeting glimpses of the River Liffey below is a delight and the area has been very well presented. The substantial White Water Development was busy, very well presented and we particularly liked the Avenue together with the layout and treatment of the shops surrounding the parking square. Bord na Mona headquarters was very well presented while the former church in the centre of the town requires its backyard to be tidied or screened from people exiting the car park. The very extensive Wyeth Plant with its fine floral displays and mature trees is an excellent introduction to this well presented centre. The FAS Office looked well. Newbridge College projected an agreeable air of academic dignity. We liked particularly the treatment of its front round flowerbed with its painted curb stones in papal colours. The enormous extent of new housing stock in Newbridge was underscored by the substantial Rosconnell Housing Estate and those in College Farm.

The Built Environment:
The layout and grounds of St. Conleth Church close to the bridge is an arresting sight. We were struck with the fine standards of the National Schools nearby also St. Conleth and the Patrician Primary School. The rebuilt houses in Henry Street were well presented as was the Holy Faith Secondary School. Commercial remises along the busy, traffic burdened Main Street were very well presented, many freshly painted and a number with floral embellishment. The general layout of White Water Shopping Centre and its integration of hopping and parking is the outcome of very well thought out design. The Roseberry Clinic looked well.

The Parish Centre and the Sport and Leisure Centre were presented to a very high order. The Credit Union in Edward Street caught the eye as did the well presented Clarke's Menswear.

Landscaping:
Central to the success of Newbridge's landscape presentation is the manner in which the Liffey River has been presented. Nearby St. Conleth's contemplative space around the Church is certainly meritorious. The GAA Grounds and the large car park in front of it is a fine example of integrated planning with the probability that the pressure times on parking for business needs and for pleasure will be significantly far apart. The children's play area at the Newbridge Sport and Leisure Centre was very well presented and well equipped. We welcomed the anti-parking timber bollards at various locations. The Roseberry Hill roundabout was very well presented as was that at the Ballymany Crossroads and the landscaped roundabout at the Naas Road similarly. A number of individual gardens had projected their garden display beyond their front facing wall and these collectively contributed to success of the overall scene.

The splendid viewing point and notice board at the shrub-bed at Watering Gates where the extent and especially the size of planters is applauded. The tranquillity of Moorefield Urban Park was noted and we applaud particularly the extent and number of ground planted flowerbeds in and near the town centre.

Wildlife and Natural Amenities:
The provision of bird nesting boxes and wild flowers – to provide the necessary food chain - in the Liffeyside Amenity Area has proved very successful. We look forward to the results of your biodiversity and habitat study as a significant piece of research which will be beneficial to your wild life programme for many years to come. The decision to scarify the natural wild flower meadow it is hoped will strengthen this valuable local resource which is a critical part of the essential food chain for wild life and birds.

Litter Control:
Litter management in general throughout the town was not a problem; it was more a matter of very minor amounts in several locations without any one specific identifiable black spot. Litter bins were noted in several locations. These were of a suitable design and appeared to be adequately serviced

Waste Minimisation:
We were delighted to note the very large sign on the national school 'Walking to School is Cool, Walk on Wednesday' this is good concept projected as a clever idea and gets across the message of reducing unnecessary dependence on motor cars. The provision of recycling facilities both at Tesco's and at the Sports Centre is to be welcomed. Both locations have been well respected without any indication of the abandonment of materials which has marred a number of locations in other towns on occasions.

Complements and congratulations are extended to the 5 primary schools who have already secured their Green Flag Status and best wishes extended to the remainder of the primary schools who are currently working their way through the programme. It is to be hoped that the 3 remaining secondary schools will follow their lone colleague into the Green Flag Programme before long.

Tidiness:
Newbridge generally projects a very fresh and neat countenance to the world. There is a very considerable volume of traffic still through the town which is quite intrusive. A number of directional and other signs display considerable traffic splatter and need to be washed for best effect. Some individual shops and premises need attention. The Post Office was surprisingly poorly presented. The iron metal work at the entrance to Newbridge College requires attention and repainting. Graffiti was not as noticeable on this occasion as in the past. The construction of additional paths and pavements continues while in a number of locations inappropriate driving has badly damaged curb stones.

Residential Areas:
Newbridge is experiencing unprecedented increases in the availability of housing stock over the last number of years. Housing estates have been constructed to a high level with considerable attention to appropriate layout. The Grange Residential area and the nearby Priory are very well developed areas as is the Sarsfield Drive Estate with its extensive communal grassed areas while Liffey Hall with its traditional lamp poles are positive additions to the town. The sizeable Barrettstown Meadows and Roseberry Court with its new pavement also looked very well. The red brick construction of Baroda Estate looked particularly delightful especially the communal grassed area in front where excellent tree planting has taken place. The Wellesley Manor houses looked extremely attractive. The individual gardens in Rowan Terrace and along Canning Place were marked with some very fine individual gardens. The tree purchase scheme is to be thanked it seems for the number of trees that add great appeal to the various estates.

Roads, Streets and Back Areas:
The level of traffic throughout is substantial. Thanks to the very significant commercial sponsorship the approach roads were very well presented with verges and hedgerows suitably cut back, extensive mature trees contributing to a pleasant scene. Pavements generally were recently swept and well presented.

However many road signs were obscured by vegetation and or were soiled by passing traffic. The two major roundabouts north and south of the town were very pleasantly planted and complements to the commercial firms involved and the volunteers as well. The road surface in Henry Street is very poor in spots particularly at the junction with Charlotte Street where urgent action is required. We welcome the layout of many roads where the sequence from the centre is the road, then grassed area, then cycling track and finally pedestrians close in against the side wall. This is visually very agreeable while at the same time having an undoubted safety dividend as well. Some weeds however have intruded between the cycle track and the pedestrian pathway in places. The Railway Station has now a very fine new platform.

General Impression:
In common with many towns Newbridge is progressively and impressively tackling the many difficulties that beset it. The extent of transit traffic, problems with anti-social behaviour and the inevitable financial constraints governing progress. The presentation of Newbridge over the years, its successful use of flowers and shrubs to project colour and movement onto its various streets has been impressive. As a community it has not embraced as yet the flying of flags as an inexpensive yet effective way to introduce colour and movement. We noted in several locations flag poles but very few were actually flying flags on the day of adjudication. Presentation of its many open spaces is truly a delight and many of these have been done with flare and an eye to good design which is applauded.

All involved in this year’s fine presentation are thanked for their efforts and wished well in 2009.

Second Round Adjudication:
It is probably six or seven years ago since this adjudicator last visited Newbridge and there have been some phenomenal changes in that time. Most notable is the new White Water Shopping complex, which was admired for its clean presentation. Other commercial premises admired include the Credit Union, Café Continental, Maisonette and The Granary Store. The clean lines at Penny’s offered a pristine façade which unfortunately accentuates the poor presentation of the adjacent Post Office. The Naas approach to Newbridge looks fantastic and the Wyeth roundabout was beautifully landscaped. Similarly, the entrances to Bord na Mona and the Keadeen Hotel are presented to the highest standard.

The Newbridge Silverware Visitor Centre was immaculate. Pretty hanging baskets and incidental planters added a welcome splash of colour in the town centre. Freshly painted bollards were noted in the environs of St. Patrick’s Church of Ireland however; in this area road surfaces were a little uneven in places. Weeds along Limerick Lane and Dawson Street were noted. The parking area at St. Conleth’s GAA Grounds was neat in appearance. A scattering of litter was noted at a bus stop in the town centre and cigarette butts and gum remain the biggest problem with regard to litter. Many of the residential areas were admired including Langton Park, The Seven Springs, Crotanstown Grange, Kilbelin and Liffey Hall.

Newbridge continues to perform consistently in the Tidy Towns Competition - and for this congratulation are extended to all involved.

Well Done!

Droichead Nua or Newbridge
Your Town - It's easy to make a difference