This article is from page 41 of the 2011-09-06 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 41 JPG
THE PEOPLE of Bridgetown were over the moon last night after scooping their very first accolade in the national Tidy Towns competition.
Bridgetown won the endeavour award after increasing its score from 254 points last year to 259 this time around. The success was put down to the strong community spirit locally.
The adjudicators visited Bridgetown in June and were very happy with the work done by the small committee in the village which is populated by around 200 people.
Points were increased in a number of categories including landscaping; wildlife and natural amenities; litter control; waste minimisation and also the condition of the residential areas.
Chairperson of the Tidy Towns committee, Mary Duggan said this was the first award during 15 years’ participation in this competition. It comes on foot of the area winning first place in its category in the countywide ‘Clare in Bloom’ competition earlier in the year.
“We are delighted. We didn’t expect anything,” said Ms Duggan. “We have a lovely green area, lovely church grounds and school grounds. They are all top class,” she said.
Mary works closely with Tony Horan, Brid Drew and Aidan Toomey in ensuring the locality looks its best all year round.
“We just kept going with the high standard of what we have been doing over the years. It’s all about commitment really,” she said.
“We focused on grass cutting, keeping the kerbs litter free and painting the creamery,” she said.
The adjudicators were pleased with a number of initiatives undertaken by the local committee and stated that the village green has a “striking appearance”.
“Bridgetown village has an attractive layout radiating out from the old stone bridge on both sides,” the adjudication report noted.
It congratulated the local primary school on securing a green flag. “It was good to see one (Green flag) flying proudly this year. We congratulate all concerned on this achievement,” stated the report.
The Church and adjoining burial grounds were praised, while the Marian Grotto was described as pro- viding a “welcoming atmosphere”.
“The various approach roads are certainly your strength and have a lovely variety of stone walls, hedgerows and mature trees. The Clonboy Estate approach is spectacular and still retains its original formal character. The sloping green at the village centre is a delight and makes an immediate visual impact on the visitor,” stated the adjudicators, in their report.
“Your successful liaison with the local school is heartening and perhaps bodes well for the future,” added the report.