Tidy Towns 1999

"Caring for our Envoirnment"

Centre Clonroche

County Wexford

Category B
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Date of Adjudication 01-07-1999

Clonroche. County Wexford

OVERALL DEVELOPMENTAL APPROACH

The entry from Clonroche Development Association is very welcome and Clonroche, a village of significance and historical importance dating to the 17 Century is warmly welcomed to the Tidy Towns movement. Thank you for the Development Plan for the village and for the Ordnance Survey map also submitted with your comprehensively completed entry form. Enjoying a major passing traffic, the manner in which Clonroche projects itself to its many transit visitors can play a material pant in helping to accentuate its economic well-being. It is to be hoped that the objectives of the Tidy Towns Committee, dovetailing with the overall development plan, can secure the backing of the community at large. Priorities for attention will be to improve the landscaping and floral enhancement of the village while, at the same time, identifying and dealing with some negative elements. Clonroche has a number of plastic signs which have exceeded their "sell-by" date and could, with advantage, be replaced. Among these are Canto Electrical Company, Larkin and Londis. The mature trees within the village are a delightful feature and every effort should be made to retain, indeed accentuate, their development.

THE BUILT ENVIRONMENT

Clonroche contains an interesting mix of industrial, mercantile, civil and ecclesiastical buildings of consequence. The scale of buildings naturally varies and yet the totality of the village projects a pleasing, cohesive entity. The Avonmore/Waterford Co-Op Factory is very well presented and appropriately screened. The Waterford Trading Centre similarly was very well presented. The public house - Burrow Inn - was colourful and looked well as did Cloch Ban - adorned with window boxes. The Church and the Community Centre contributed to the overall view while the National School and grounds, were similarly, a very positive element. The Post Office was panticularly praisewonthy. Some of the commercial premises could consider repainting and the addition of perhaps, hanging baskets or window boxes to give a sense of colour and movement to their overall presentation.

LANDSCAPING

Because of its location on the busy N30, a priority for Clonroche should be the creation and emphasising of a clear cut division between the village and the surrounding rural areas. This can best be achieved by judicious use of the village nameplate, the speed limit signs and emphasised by commencing the cutting of hedgerows and verges from that point inwards. A secondary, equally desirable objective should be to maintain a sense of continuity, leading to a heightened sense of entity for the village as a whole. Where there are gaps in the housing stock because of a site on which nothing has yet been built, it is suggested that a wall or an enclosing in the visual sense, or hedgerow be planted. The tree planting which is already well established is praisewonthy but some of the trees to the east of the road, from the New Ross end, seemed to be rather stumped and selective surgery or replanting may be required. A number of the venticals from the fencing here are broken or missing. Some commercial premises have installed flag poles, notably Waterford Trading Centre but unhappily no flags were flying on the day of adjudication. The presentation of their fencing by Wexford Aluminium Products caught the eye. Good wrought iron railings in black topped by white paint, were a very satisfying presentation. The foreground of Canon Murphy Park and the School grounds were very pleasant. However where possible ground planting is to be preferred to the use of tubs or boxes.

WILDLIFE AND NATURAL AMENITIES

The proactive encouragement of wild life, especially bird life, is seen now as an impontant adjunct to the more traditional activities of Tidy Towns Groups. The identification and encouragement of wildlife habitats coupled with an education programme to encourage a greater appreciation of birds and animals is a requirement of the overall 3 year programme.

Securipg the services of a local wildlife enthusiast or discussing this aspect with the Wildlife Ranger attached to An Duchas - The Heritage Service, is recommended. Clonroche, because of its essentially rural setting, offers widespread opportunities in this regard. The extensive and well laid out National School grounds are suggested as a suitable location for a wild bird habitat, the planting of native, berry-bearing shrubs and trees, feeding tables and nesting boxes is an excellent project, calculated to exercise the imagination of the students.

LITTER CONTROL

Inevitably, lifter and spoil needs to be addressed. The availability of suitably sited and appropriately designed litter bins, [which might be sponsored by the adjacent commercial premises] is suggested. It is worthwhile to fix on a design standard and to use it throughout the village rather than have a range of different designs and styles. Lifter management generally throughout the village and especially in the vacinity of the School was of a high order but there was some falling from grace in sections of the long Main Street.

TIDINESS

Often very minor matters can intrude, disproportionate to their importance in this regard. The spoil that was apparent between the road and the pavement on the side road to Chapel Villas for example jarred somewhat. The practice of storing/displaying merchandise outside commercial premises should not be encouraged. The Recycle for Life installation is suitably sited and was very neat and tidy on the day of adjudication.

RESIDENTIAL AREAS

Individual houses throughout the village were maintained to a high standard. A number had very splendid individual gardens. The Canon Murphy housing estate featured a very well presented communal grassed area and a number of impressive, individual gardens. Standards did vary however. Ground planting, wherever possible is favoured rather than the use of small scale tubs or boxes. Where it is necessary to resort to the use of container planting these do require to be very fully planted so as to achieve a cascading of colour effect. The road to Chapel Village and the Enniscorthy road had, in addition to the New Ross entrance, a number of fine individual houses.

ROADS, STREETS AND BACK AREAS

The presentation of the main roads was of a high order. Speed limit signs were clean and suitably painted as was the village nameplate. The hedgerows were appropriately cut back as were the verges. The street through the village itself appeared to be freshly swept. Within Clonroche the signage was clean.

GENERAL IMPRESSION

Clonroche is a warm, colourful, welcoming village whose positive attributes far exceed the minor matters which need attention. The Tidy Towns Committee and all associated with this new entry are applauded for their endeavours and encouraged to continue their activities which will be reflected in enhanced presentation and the improved economic well being of their town.

OVERALL COUNTY WEXFORD

Category 'B'

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