27 August 1997
Quay to be wildlife haven
Five-year plan for top Tidy Towns honours
A five year plan is being devised to bring the highest Tidy Towns awards in the country to Westport. Currently at a draft stage, the proposals target the progressive development of Westport up to the turn of the century and beyond.
It will centre on preserving the local environment and keeping in touch with the changing face of the town as it develops.
Main features of the plan, due to be published next year, include the development of The Quay as a haven for wildlife, improvement works at the Ballinrobe Road and community facilities such as the Town Hall, and the promotion of the residential areas competition.
According to the chairman of the Westport Tidy Towns Committee, Mr. John Cox, last year's success was a launching pad for the future and the five year plan is geared to realise the full potential of the town.
The final round of adjudicating in this year's national Tidy Towns competition is currently underway around the country. A total of 729 towns and villages have entered the competition, an increase of seven from last year.
This year's winners will be announced on Monday September 8 by the Minister for the Environment, Noel Dempsey, and Eoin McGettigan, Chief Executive of Super Valu Supermarkets, the main sponsors, at a reception in the Royal Hospital, Kilmainham, Dublin.
Westport was voted the tidiest town in the west at last year's awards, receiving a total of 225 points from a possible 300. It also received the Mayo county award for best town or village. And hopes are high in the town that the double could be completed this year.
According to the chairman of Westport Tidy Towns Committee, Mr. John Cox, much of this year's campaign has focused on the development of a three to five year strategy for developing the tidy towns concept in Westport.
Developing a long-term plan has become a requirement of the new marking system for the awards, pointing the way forward.
Other key aspects has been the development of The Quay area and an increased focus has been placed on the residential areas competition.
The plan is being devised in conjunction with Westport urban council and Mayo County Council and work is ongoing. It is hoped that full details of the plan will be made public next year.
According to John Cox, such is the extent of planning by Westport urban council and with the Westport Plan 2000 still to be adopted, there are a number of key areas where plans are still to be finalised. Close co-operation with the local authority are essential if the plan is to be operational.
"We are working very closely with them on that," he said, "and we will probably see a final plan in place next year."
WILDLIFE PROMOTED AT THE QUAY
The main tidy towns project this year has been at Westport Quay. According to John: "We have concentrated on the wildlife at the Quay, with an emphasis on the water side award.
"FAS workers have carried out huge improvements in the area with painting, grass cutting and cutting back overgrown areas, painting of cranes and bollards and lamp posts."
There are also plans to erect two large information signs detailing the unique wildlife found at The Quay and to install two telescopes for bird watchers and other environment and wildlife enthusiasts.
Plans for the signage is at a draft stage and it is hoped that one of the telescopes will be available for use by the public later this year.
The full development of the Quay's potential will be realised over the next five years, with improvement works being carried out in line with the on-going building and construction at the location.
Another plan includes the planting of the railway walk. Proposals for this area will depend on the adoption of the Westport 2000 plan.
Preparations for developing the railway bank at the Ballinrobe Road in conjunction with Iarnrod Eireann next year have also started.
Proposals are also being devised for improvement works at the Town Hall and a fund raising drive will be put together in the near future.
There are also plans to develop the walk routes around the town, taking in heritage features and sculpture and developing parks.
This year's campaign has seen a lot of grass cutting, litter and bin collections, landscaping and planting taking place around the town.
A number of litter bins have been sponsored, in conjunction with the urban council and county council, and regular clean ups are also taking place.
Tree planting has been a major project and is on-going. According to John, members of the public are invited to sponsor a tree. They receive a certificate for this sponsorship and the tidy towns committee plant the tree.
Around two hundred trees have been planted this year, principally along the Ballinrobe Road area.
Bulb planting has also been taking place in conjunction with an Mayo County Council horticulturalist who has been very active in the town and the number of hanging baskets has been increased.
Mr. Cox paid tribute to FAS and the National Parks and Wildlife Service for their contribution to date with various projects around the town.
SCHOOLS GET MORE INVOLVED
He also paid tribute to the schools who had become involved in the Junior Tidy Towns. They had taken part in art projects and quizzes and on their own initiative had been fund raising for the tidy towns effort. They were also involved in planting and he commended them for the planter beds in the town car park.
Next year it is hoped they will be even more involved in projects such as tree planting and the planting of wildflowers, a project which will be getting a big promotion next year.
He also paid tribute to the communities involved in the local residential competition. Points awarded in last year's national competition for this area had increased by 15 per cent on the previous year.
Mr. Cox said he attributed this increase to the great improvements carried out by residents in all areas. This was an important part of this year's effort and is an essential area in the coming years.
