| What are the
rewards?
Primarily a sense of satisfaction that you have been part of a successful
partnership to improve the appearance of your surroundings. Secondly,
an array of awards to suit the category entered, park benches, attractive
signage, trophies and monitory gifts.
WHICH Best Kept category suits you?
| Towns & Villages |
|
| BK Large Town |
Over 15,000 Residents |
| BK Medium Town |
8,001 - 15,000 Residents |
| BK Small Town |
4,001 - 8000 Residents |
| BK Large Village |
1,001 - 4,000 Residents |
| BK Small Village |
100 - 1000 Residents |
| Housing Areas |
|
| BK Large |
Over 200 Dwellings |
| BK Medium |
51 - 200 Dwellings |
| BK Small (including sheltered) |
0 - 50 Dwellings |
| Schools |
|
| BK Large School |
Over 500 Pupils |
| BK Medium School |
150 - 500 Pupils |
| BK Small School |
Up to 150 Pupils |
| (including Nursery Schools
not situated within a Primary School complex.) |
| Healthcare
Facilities |
|
| BK
Daycare Facility |
eg
Day Centres, Training Centres, Resource Centres |
| BK
Residential Facility |
eg
Hostels, Children's Homes, Elderly Persons' Homes |
| BK
Healthcare Facility |
eg
Health Centres, Clinics |
GO ON – GO WILD
To encourage everyone to do their bit for Biodiversity by creating wildlife habitats in our towns
and villages, an award will be presented for the Best Biodiversity Project if sufficient entries
are received. If you would like to take part please contact Joan Burton of NIAC on 02890403681.
WHEN does judging take place?
Judging is undertaken by panels of judges throughout the Province
during the months of May to August. Awards are presented October/November
each year.
Schools are judged during March - May and Awards are presented in
June.
WHAT do Judges look for?
| Town/Village
category |
| 1. |
Absence
of litter and flyposters |
| 2. |
Absence
of graffiti |
| 3. |
Decorative
and repair order of private & commercial buildings/premises,
and absence of derelict buildings. |
| 4. |
General appearance
of approach roads: verges, main roads and public open spaces
e.g., parks, playing fields, etc. |
| 5. |
Tidiness of private
gardens and associated frontages |
| 6. |
Condition of
street fixtures, furniture and public facilities (e.g., road
signs, lighting, seating, toilets) |
| 7. |
Quality condition
and placing of advertising |
| 8. |
Evidence of business
and general community participation in overall appearance of
locality |
| Housing
Area Category |
| 1. |
Cleanliness
of roads and paved areas |
| 2. |
General
appearance of properties and gardens |
| 3. |
Evidence
of initiative |
| School's
Category |
| 1. |
Absence
of litter and general Tidiness & Cleanliness of area |
| 2. |
Environmental
Enhancement e.g.: flowerbeds, baskets, tubs, boxes etc. |
| 3. |
Evidence
of user/staff participation |
| Healthcare
Category |
| 1. |
Absence
of general litter |
| 2. |
General
Tidiness and Cleanliness of area |
| 3. |
Environmental
Enhancement e.g.: flowerbeds, baskets, tubs, boxes etc |
WHO can enter?
Entries are generally made via Local Authorities, Housing Associations
and Residents Groups. In the Schools and Healthcare categories entries
are submitted by individual facilities. Northern Ireland Amenity
Council would wish to acknowledge the valuable contributions made
by Local Authorities, Northern Ireland Housing Executive, Education
and Library Boards and Department of Health and Social Services.
Ireland's Best Kept Town.
In March 1996 a new initiative was launched jointly between Northern
Ireland Amenity Council and the Department of the Environment, Dublin
to find "Ireland's Best Kept Town".
Entrants for this competition come from the previous years winners
in the five Town and Village categories of the Best Kept winners
of the Tidy Towns competition. All centres are visited during the
month of May, with Awards presented in June.
|
