Dalkey Tidy Towns
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Dalkey Tidy Towns |
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| A list of our involvement for the year | click link for Synopsis 2006 / 2007 |
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| In general, Local support for the Tidy Towns is very good. Funding for most projects is divided equally between the D.B.A., D.C.C., Dalkey Tidy Towns Committee and Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Council (D.L.R.C.C.). This formula fosters a good relationship between the residents and the business people in the town. The business people in the town are very supportive although we have noticed that the multiple/chains in the town are less interested than the owner run businesses. We also receive a lot of support from the Dalkey Active Retirement Association (D.A.R.A.), the scouts, the parish and parishioners of both St Patrick's and The Church of the Assumption, the Gardai, Cuala GAA Club, Carmona Services who supply our flower baskets, the Heritage Centre and the local Lions Club. We are currently working with the DLRCC Environmental officer to promote Green Schools in the locality. Local business people have given talks to children in the library which attracted 80 children. 2004 saw the introduction of Litter Patrols which were well supported by local residents, very obvious in their new luminous jackets ! The Credit Union have kindly let the Tidy Towns have a notice board in their window. This is very useful for keeping the public up to date with what is happening. We have also developed this website at: www.dalkeytidytowns.com ( which you are currently at ) We work very closely with D,L.L.C.C. . We have regular meetings/walkabouts with every department. They are partners in almost every project in the town. They are very supportive. Dalkey has been nominated to represent D.L.R.C.C. in the Pride of Place competition. An Taisce, Enfo, Coast Watch, Iarnrod Eireann, E.S.B. are also involved in our endeavours. |
| Built Environment. Dalkey currently has no derelict buildings. Several shops have had a facelift in the last year, most notably "La Maison" on Castle St which has been refurbished to a very high standard. "Tiger Becs" and "Sherry Fitzgerald" are also new and are very well maintained. "Crisp" launderette and dry cleaners has also been tastefully renovated. The Dart station has been painted and looks very smart. Some of the lanes have been smartened up. The lane beside the EBS has been painted, the graffiti has been removed from the Library Lane. The lane beside Kerins Pharmacy is still unkempt looking but development of the old dispensary is imminent and as services will be routed through the lane, it has been agreed by all the premises involved to wait until the building is finished before resurfacing. The plan is to resurface and light the lane. The steps at the back are to get a handrail and will have floral displays during the summer to give a "Spanish steps" effect. We have concentrated a lot on Eurospar and its car park this year. We have had several meetings with the regional manager who is very supportive. They have cleaned up some of their pallets and delivery areas. As the council own part of the carpark , co-operation between the two is very important. We have had several meetings regarding the state of the steps to the library and the grassy area at the back of the youth club. The council have agreed to repair the steps and pave the grassy area, in principle at least. We are not sure if it will be done in time for this years judgement or not. The Tramyard has also just got planning permission for development so things will probably get worse there before they get better. The old Vico motors premises is almost finished and hopefully will be occupied soon. The new apartments beside McDonaghs are finished and the development opposite the Shell Garage is almost complete. The committee were sad to see the demise of the very attractive landscaped area in that space. The poster sites are still there. They are a big thorn in our side but it is a legal issue and we can do nothing about it at present. JC Decaux however are at least diligent about keeping their sites clean, but in general the landlords involved are totally uncooperative. |
| Landscaping: The town should be wearing its summer colours from June 16th ~ Bloomsday on. We would ask the adjudicators to bear this in mind. The local businesses pay for the street flowers and baskets which are supplied and maintained by DLRCC but organised through the Tidy Towns committee who also planted daffodil bulbs at the base of the trees in the Eurospar car park which looked beautiful in early spring. The area opposite AIB is a popular place to sit, again legal difficulties prevent its development so temporary measures are in place. We are unable to pave it properly; we have negotiated with the Parks department to plant some climbing plants near the boundary wall. This area tends to be littered quite badly at night and needs a lot of maintenance. A new seat dedicated to Harry Latham has been commissioned and might be in place before adjudication or soon after.. This will be placed in the area beside Archbold's Castle. Harry Latham (pic) was a local historian who donated all his collection to the Heritage Centre. This seat is sponsored by D.C.C, There were three different sites planted with trees this year in conjunction with National Tree Week. The roundabout at the entrance to Dalkey at Barnhill Road. This site also had a new seat donated by the Lions Club and has been landscaped for the erection of the "welcome to Dalkey" sign, which is currently being inscribed and should be in situ by the end of May. This is funded by the D.C.C. and erected by D.L.R.C.C. and organised by us. We have reserved two more pieces of granite for the Vico Rd and the Dalkey Avenue entrances to Dalkey and may possibly have another one erected this year. Trees were replaced at the Castlepark Junction and more planted on Killiney Hill with An Taisce. Dillons Park has been used as a store for machinery for the last 18months should finally be vacated in May. The residents responsible for the machinery have promised to leave the park in impeccable condition. DLRCC have assured us that weeding of kerbs is ongoing. Plans are underfoot for the redevelopment of the lands at Hyde Park. The soccer club plan to put in an astro turf pitch and DLRCC have at our suggestion plans to upgrade the park, adding more trees, a perimeter walk and a children's playground. The graveyard beside the Heritage Centre, dating from the sixth century has also been extensively refurbished. Access is by request through the Heritage Centre at no charge. More immediately we are concentrating on landscaping the area at the back of Eurospar supermarket. Specifically removing the unsightly pallets and rubbish. We are working closely with the management and D.L.R.C.C. to improve the look of the whole car park. Unfortunately a change of personnel in D.L.R.C.C. has interrupted our progress. |
| Wildlife & Natural Amenities: Dalkey is very fortunate in its situation and has an abundance of natural amenities. This year the committee decided to concentrate on the coast, specifically two areas off the Vico Road, the first known as the Ramparts, the second, a popular swimming area called White Rock. It is the start of a project that will gather momentum over the next few years. We have consulted with Coast Watch, An Taisce and of course DLRCC. Both areas have a rich diversity of flora and fauna - mainly birds. The Ramparts ( see reports on wildlife & flora & fauna ) and is home to a rare species of snail.( no garlic butter allowed in this area ) We are being advised by Bird Watch Ireland and various local environmentalists. Most of our efforts this year for this area are preliminary. We have cleaned up the litter on the access points. The overgrowth on the paths is to be cut back and maintained over the season. Bins are supplied at suitable points - where they won't be burnt out or vandalised. The shelter at White Rock will be repainted. Local swimmers have formed a litter collection group on a daily basis and we have arranged collections with the council. New signs are erected at the entrances. It is envisaged that these will only be temporary and the committee hope to supply more attractive signs for next year. We have already selected a piece of granite for this purpose. We are also in the process of organising notice boards for the area with details of the bird life and other features. We hope to also provide new seats. To some extent our efforts are tempered by the possibility of acute social behaviour in the area especially at night. For daytime visitors however this is a delightful oasis. Dalkey Hill is another beautiful area and has not been forgotten. It is the site for a "family day" during the summer. As a site it has a huge variety of landscapes from the natural meadow at the entrance to the quarry in the east. We are also involved in the general upkeep of Dillon's Park, Sorrento Park and Bulloch and Coliemore Harbours. |
| Litter control: We are continuing with our "Litter Patrols" this summer. Tidy Towns volunteers in their luminous jackets are being noticed! We tackle problem areas around the town - the lanes, the two car parks, the site opposite AIB and the DART station. We also have coastal and parks groups who remove the litter from these areas. DLRCC are very supportive in supplying tools and organising collection. Litter is a constant problem, enhanced this year by illegal dumping due to increased waste charges. Black plastic bags appear regularly at corner sites and dumping at the back of Eurospar is a common problem. We are trying to cope with this by working with the litter warden and the management of Eurospar. It is an easy solution to drive into the car park in the dark and dump fridges, prams, bikes and rubbish, straight from the car. We are using Valerie Cox the RTE journalist who has a regular feature on illegal dumping to highlight and identify the perpetrators. We have also, on the preventative side, run 3 recycling workshops and had a public meeting on recycling and waste management. Various groups such as the scouts are involved in an "adopt an area" scheme and have undertaken to keep it clean. |
| Tidiness: A lot of the lanes in the town have been painted and cleaned up following letters from our committee. Floral displays in the town add a lovely touch of colour. (NB: not until after 16th June). DLRCC are undertaking a programme of weed and kerb control. Newly landscaped areas at Barnhill Road and Castle Park Road have greatly improved the entrances to Dalkey. Eurospar have corralled much of their unsightly pallets at the back of the supermarket. Development work at the DART station is still ongoing and creates its own litter. An unsightly leak outside Gemma's has finally been repaired. Whereas the poster sites are ugly we are trying at least to keep them clean. Floral displays also make them a little more bearable. |
| Residential Areas: Dalkey is lucky in that the Community Council has a wonderful local network. Each area has its own representative who co-ordinates activity in that area. Examples are new signs outside Hillside and Barnhill Avenue. A very popular Garden Competition is run by the Community Council every summer |
| Roads, streets and back areas: Approach roads to Dalkey are much improved. Last year we did the Castle Park entrance, this year the Barnhill site has been upgraded. A new sign, trees, planting and a new seat have all been installed. Work is underway on the Vico Road and Dalkey Park sites. The signs are currently being engraved and may be in situ. As already highlighted, graffiti has been removed from the library lane and floral displays at the top of the lane beside Kerins Pharmacy brighten up the area while awaiting development. Plans are afoot to upgrade the playing fields at Hyde Road. This will involve opening up the green area as Public Park with walkways and a children's playground. This is still at a preliminary stage. The car park at the back of Eurospar has been the main focus of our attentions. The Council have agreed to repair the steps at the top of the library land, add a handrail and do some landscaping. Hopefully this will have been done by adjudication day. A change of personnel in the Council may delay things. Planning permission at the Tramyard has been granted and this will no doubt improve this area. |
| Dalkey's situation is enviable. Its situation at the coast, with Killiney Hill behind and a lovely town centre is impressive. Culturally, Dalkey has a wonderful history. We are very lucky to have a dynamic Heritage Centre which is doing trojan work to promote all aspects of our past. Dalkey also has a large number of clubs, societies and associations whose talent and expertise is available to the community. For example - Dalkey Players provide actors for the Christmas Pageant, Dalkey Active Retirement has harnessed a huge amount of local talent who are also very supportive of Tidy Towns efforts. Our position on the coast has probably not been highlighted enough in the past. This year we are concentrating a lot of effort on promoting and enhancing our coastal areas. Dalkey Tidy Towns entered and won the Environmental Section of the D.L.R.C.C. Community Awards. |
| A new tourist map of Dalkey This has been produced in a co-operative effort in the town. It had been identified that a lot of tourists in Dalkey needed direction to even find the sea! Guided walks in the area are run by the Heritage Centre and local historians. Dalkey has been entered in the Green Coast Competition, specifically White Rock. Provision of seats in scenic areas - outside Archbold's Castle and at White Rock makes it an attractive place to linger. We are currently investigating the provision of notice boards at certain points to provide information to the public. Our website www.dalkeytidytowns.com has been set up. The Tidy Towns Committee also fundraises and financially supports all endeavours in the town. |
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