Gorey’s Main Street – good performance in this year’s Tidy Towns competition.

Gorey has received a positive report in the National Tidy Towns 2013 competition, going up by an extra four marks against an amazing increase of 24 marks over the past five years, so there is cause for celebration and encouragement for the small group that dedicates its energy to improving the appearance and the reputation of the town.

A committee of five and 18 volunteers share the workload and Gorey increased from 275 marks to 279.

The increase came in five of the 10 sections: the built environment, landscaping, wildlife and natural amenities, litter control, and residential areas.

Fulfilling obligations in all 10 sections is a tall order, and especially areas where the maintenance of standards is beyond the control of the Tidy Towns committee, sometimes the obstacles may be of a commercial nature and in other sections the Town Council can be helpful.

The abolishment of the Town Council next June could have serious implications for voluntary groups like the Tidy Towns’ committee, because, in fairness the council members have been the watchdogs on this issue and have a strong rapport with the best civic minded citizens.

That support will be further eroded in the future and a strong layer of support will be removed from the equation.

Public buildings that won the praise of the adjudicators include Gorey Community School, the exterior of St. Michael’s Cemetery, the Wesley Chapel and Christ Church.

Commercial premises received favourable mention was Tomkins Garage. The report said:

“Six well filed containers of red and yellow flowers add lots of summer colour to the 1798 memorial in front of Tomkins Garage at this key approach to the town.”

There was much negative comments about hanging baskets on Esmonde Street that were torn from their brackets and some died from watering during the long summer and was debated at meetings of Gorey Town Council, but it appears that this negativity had no impact on the Tidy Towns outcome.

“Esmonde Street is awash with colour thanks to almost every premises having hanging baskets,” argued the report.

Gorey will be happy with the 2013 report, but will be determined to work harder in the months ahead, and seek even more marks.

Full report in THE GOREY ECHO.