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September 20, 2007

Adjudicators Report - Observations by LTTA

Some further observations from LLTA arising from the adjudicators' report on Leixlip in he 2007 Tidy Town Competition.

Observations on adjudicators' report on Leixlip in he 2007 Tidy Town Competition

1) Amongst the 18 towns in Leixlip’s size category, we came 10th in the ranking, up one place on last year. The best town was Ennis, which scored an average of 74%, compared to our 63%. If the areas within the control of Kildare County Council or Leixlip Town Council (ie, Waste Minimisation, Litter Control, Tidiness, and the Built Environment) matched the marks obtained for areas mainly within our scope, we would have risen to 4th place in the competition, putting us on a par with Carlow town, which scored 275 marks.

2) Our weakest area were judged to be in Waste Minimisation (40%), followed by Litter Control. “The committee makes a strong case for the provision of recycling facilities in the car parks of supermarkets” - said the judges. They were referring to our attempt get the town council to make a by-law requiring stores which sell goods in recyclable packaging to provide recycling facilities at their premises. We got zilch – not even a reply. Instead the town council demanded the closure of bottle/can banks for the slightest problem; instead they should have provided more and kept them clean from their own resources. Leixlip’s recyclables have gone down because of the closure of facilities, according to the Co Council’s own data.

3) The second worst area was in Litter Control (46%): The judges commented: “On the day of adjudication, the town centre was quite littered particularly along the main street and at the Plaza and the car park behind.” The report states that the judging took place on Tuesday, 19th June last. It didn’t! We know that two judges with clipboards were about on the Monday, 11th June, during the day and probably the previous Saturday, 9th. We do our cleanups mostly on Monday evenings. They would have picked up the week end litter from the pubs and takeaways. Street cleansing is mainly the job of Kildare Co Council; but is also the job the Macaris and others whose customers cause litter: they are required to clean up on each side of their premises. The implementation of the litter and the planning laws is also KCC’s job. The Gardai have powers to issue on the spot fines for litter. Where are they when they are needed? In our cleansing work the village centre and surrounding areas are peppered with drink bottles and cans - when drinking alcohol in public is against the town bylaws - and cartons from Route 66, Sam’s takeaway, McDonalds (Lucan) and the newest takeaway premises on Main St, Subway. We have already reported that the Co Council’s spending on street cleansing is haphazard and has been cut back in reality. The control of opening hours is still a case of all talk and no action. The approach roads from Lucan (in South Co Dublin’s area) and from Maynooth are way below par and we are surprised that the judges did not comment on them.

4) The Built Environment is our next weakest area, with 56% of the possible marks. The control of the too many shopfront signs, especially outside the Spar shop and the estate agents next door - about which the judges were critical is a planning control matter most suited to Kildare Co Council, but they won’t do it, so it is beyond control. The town council, as a statutory representative body, has the resources and authority to pursue by several means the removal of excessive signage, and the ugly electricity meters and brackets erected for one-week-a-year festival and Christmas season which deface the town centre all the year round; these are grant-aided by the town council, which should see that the place is not permanently spoiled by them.

5) We are very pleased that our efforts at landscaping, assisted by those of the Co Council’s new Parks’ Superintendent, have been rewarded. We won 70% of the possible marks and kudos for our planted half-barrels, beds at Easton and Confey GAA, the Rye bank etc; so too did the town council for its tubs and window boxes on the main street. We expect to do better here next year as our planting schemes mature.

September 19, 2007

Tidy Towns Competition .... Leixlip 2007 Results

In 2007 Leixlip received 250 points out of a possible 400 in the Tidy Towns Competition ...

Tidy Towns Competition .... Leixlip 2007 Results
Adjudication Report
Centre:                    Leixlip      Ref: 376
County:                    Kildare    Mark: 250
Category: G                             Date: Tues 19/06/2007
                                           Maximum Mark          Mark         
                                                                                           2007 % 2006 %
Overall Development Approach            50                    40           80.0%     78.0%
The Built Environment                        50                    28           56.0%     54.0%
Landscaping                                      50                    35           70.0%     66.0%
Wildlife and Natural Amenities              50                    30            60.0%    44.0%
Litter Control                                    50                    23             46.0%    42.0%
Waste Minimisation                             20                     8             40.0%    40.0 %
Tidiness                                            30                    18             60.0%    46.7%
Residential Areas                                40                   28            70.0%     65.0%
Roads, Streets and Back Areas             50                   33             66.0%     60.0%
General Impression                             10                    7              70.0%    70.0%
TOTAL MARK                                   400                 250            62.5%    56.8%
      Overall Development Approach: Leixlip is welcome to the 2007 National Tidy Towns Competition. Thank you for your excellent submission. Leixlip enjoys an enviable location on three important waterways, the Royal Canal Way, the Rye River and the River Liffey. The town boasts of many heritage buildings and has attractive stretches of high old stone walls. Your partnership approach with various agencies, the community and schools is acknowledged. 
     
     
      The Built Environment: The village centre looks very well and shop fronts are nicely presented in general, however, there are still too many above fascia signs, in a small stretch of three premises from the Spar premises to the DNG premises, nine signs were noted. The sign on the Sams premises is out of scale with the proportions of the shop front. Do encourage retailers to use see through security shutters if these are considered necessary together with internal lighting at night to enhance the streetscape, remembering that this is good for business also as it encourages window shopping. The church at the top of Captains Hill is excellent in its presentation. Congratulations on the renovation of the Salmon Leap Bridge, which is a wonderful addition with the built environment together with the Plaza, the latter provides an important focal point in the centre of the main street. Well done on work accomplished for the Scouts Den restoration project. We wish you well on the completion of restoration to St. Mary’s Church and the reinstatement of The Mass Steps. Hopefully derelict/vacant buildings will receive a new lease of life in the not too distant future.
      Landscaping: The flower display in tubs at the ESB substation and at the top of the Celbridge Road together with the flower displays elsewhere in the town were admired for their colour and profusion and excellent maintenance, congratulations to those involved. Well done on planting in the Confey G.A.A. grounds together with work achieved for the verge near the Easton Road G.A.A. property and the Easton Road Median strip: the Station Road shrubbery is also acknowledged. Pride of place must go to the Rye River walk entrance and Linear Park with interpretative boards. We wish you every success with the installation of themed sculptures on roundabouts.
     
     
      Wildlife and Natural Amenities:The William Francis Roantree Park is an exciting initiative and we look further to its further development over the coming years, this will of course improve the recreational amenity value for the town. Now that the trees have been restored along the Mall Terrace perhaps bird boxes could be placed in situ to attract a variety of bird species into the core of the town. Congratulations on the acquisition of funding for the compilation of a biodiversity study of the Sileachan Valley; we look forward to the outcome of this undertaking and being informed of the diversity of wildlife habitats here. The proposed biodiversity of the Rye Valley to encompass  forested areas on both sides of the river is exciting also; your plan to disseminate information on both biodiversity studies to the wider community using leaflets and information boards are admirable.
      Litter Control: On the day of adjudication, the town centre was quite littered particularly along the main street and at the Plaza and the car park behind, your litter control activities may need to be reviewed. We acknowledge your litter picking and Community Monday initiatives together with Broomsday and joint cleanups, which involve major clearance at specific locations. 
     
     
      Waste Minimisation: Congratulations to the ten schools registered in the Green Flag schools programme and particularly to the five that have been awarded Green Flag status. Your bottle bank recycling facilities were quite well presented. The committee makes a strong case for the provision of recycling facilities in the car parks of supermarkets. 
     
     
      Tidiness: The overall appearance of Leixlip is one of tidiness, you seem to be in control of the graffiti problem and it was a pleasure to note that the wire scape free aspect of your main street together with attractive heritage lamp   standards, Well done on the removal of cable ties and posters after elections. The refurbishment of the car park on Captain’s Hill behind Extra Vision and its clean status is acknowledged. Commiserations are offered on the work of vandals as depicted in your before and after photograph. It is good to note your activities regarding the involvement of Residents Associations in the life of the town and particularly in representing them to the council. Your Tidy Estates competition and your involvement in National Spring Clean together with your Adopt an Area competition is appreciated.
      Residential Areas: Your adopt an area competition is an excellent initiative and will bring about great results. The Mall looked wonderful for adjudication; period dwellings are an attractive feature of Leixlip. Residential estates are nicely presented in all respects.
      Roads, Streets and Back Areas: The bridge has been beautifully restored and railings with the fish motif look wonderful. The lights on the bridge at the bottom of the main street might be refurbished. The footpath at the entrance to the Rye River Walk looks well. A number of items of street furniture are in need of attention.
      General Impression: Leixlip is a handsome town with fine heritage in terms of culture amenities and the built environment. The Committee is aware of what needs to be achieve over the next few years and we wish you well in the implementation of your plan.

September 18, 2007

Liffey Descent 2007

The Liffey Descent was held on the 8th Sept. liffeydecent2007_02.jpg

More Photos

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Synchronized Canoeing?

 

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Friends?

 

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Bad Hair Day?

 

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Titanic?

 

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Watch the wall .....

 

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Bang!!!

 

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Wet Wet

 

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Wheres My Partner?? Actually went through the other side!

 

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Careful!!

 

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I said careful Amigo!!

 

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Bang!!

 

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Lean the other way!!!

 

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Oh no! We are going for a dip!

 

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Turn Back!!!

 

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Abandon Ship!

 

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Phew!!!

 

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Well at least I still have my hat ........

 

Images available in hi-definition (3mb). Click EMAIL to request a copy of any photo

September 10, 2007

IBAL Results for Leixlip - 2007 Rd. 1

Leixlip has been awarded 37th position in 1st round of the 2007 league ....


Of the towns in Kildare which have been surveyed recently, here are the results:



                 ROUND 1, 2006      ROUND 2, 2006     ROUND 1, 2007

ATHY        11th (LF)                25th (LF)                33rd (ML)


NEWBR.    40th (ML)               37th (ML)               50th (BS)


MAYN.       42nd (ML)              52nd (BS)              46th (SL)


NAAS        47th (SL)                51st (BS)               39th (L) 



 


 


LEIXLIP     52nd (BS)               47th (SL)              37th (L)  


LF= litter free;  ML= moderately littered; BS =litter black spot; L=littered




 


 


 


 AN TAISCE REPORT

 

Leixlip: 37th out of 50 towns / cities surveyed.

 

There has been a slight improvement at Leixlip but overall the town is a disappointment. There were just three sites which were Clean to European Norms – the top ranking towns had eight. The dirty welcoming sign and heavy presence of litter on the Maynooth Approach Road was indicative of the general litter situation throughout the town. There was an air of neglect on the Main Street which was ruined by the food related litter. Some of the sites which had moderate levels of litter could be improved with a little extra effort e.g. Railway Station on Maynooth Road (Outside) and Oaklawn West. 

 

In the next survey 40% of marks will be awarded for Approach Roads – this includes ring roads, slip roads and roundabouts. 

 

 

Dublin Approach Road (incl. Salmon Leap Bridge): Moderately Littered. (on approach from Dublin). Much of the litter present appeared ‘old’, indicating that the area had not been properly cleaned in quite some time. This is a shame as the stonework / railings were in good condition. There were no bins / cigarette butt disposal facilities in the area surveyed.

 

Maynooth Approach Road: Litter Blackspot. This was the most heavily littered site in Leixlip and the dirty welcoming sign is indicative of the litter situation along this approach road. There were heavy levels of all litter types along this stretch of road, particularly the further out of the town one goes. There appears to be a lack of thoroughness in the approach to cleaning further out of the town. 

 

Main Street: Serious Litter Problem. This was a disappointing Main Street, particularly as the town has Heritage Status. The condition of the footpath was poor with broken, open fire hydrants. Many of the facades of the buildings were run down and a metal gateway on one house was dirty and unsightly. There was a profusion of chewing gum, cigarette butts and sweet papers with lighter levels of fast food wrappers and plastic bottles. 

 

Scoil Chearbhail Ui Dhailaigh – Outside: Moderately Littered. Some small scatterings of sweet papers, fast food wrappers and graffiti took away from an otherwise very good site. There were low levels of chewing gum in the spacious car parking area. 

 

Scoil Chearbhail Ui Dhailaigh – Inside: Clean to European Norms. This was an excellent site. The grounds of the school are attractively landscaped and very well maintained. The whole area was clear of litter. 

 

Railway Station on Maynooth Road – Outside: Moderately Littered.  This was quite a good site and well kept. With just a little extra effort this could easily attain a higher litter classification – some light scatterings of fast food wrappers and plastic bottles took away from what could be a very good site.

 

Railway Station on Maynooth Road – Inside: Clean to European Norms. This was an excellent site. The platforms are well served by cigarette butt disposal facilities. Clearly the area is well respected and well cared for by those responsible for its maintenance.

 

Oaklawn West: Moderately Littered. Just some small scatterings of cans and fast food wrappers took away from an otherwise very good site. With a little extra effort this could easily attain a higher litter classification.

 

Rockingham: Clean to European Norms. Attractive landscaping with brightly coloured daffodils, shrubberies and trees all contributed to the very positive appearance at this residential area. It was clean, well maintained and clearly respected by all in the area.

 

Captain’s Hill: Moderately Littered. There was an air of neglect along this shopping street with plaster missing from a corner house, an unsightly phone booth and dirty / broken bins. There were no separate facilities for cigarette butt disposal – cigarette butts and chewing gum were the most prevalent types of litter with lower levels of sweet papers, fast food wrappers and plastic bottles.