No blue flag for Athlone Marina until drainage scheme in place

There will be no blue flag for Athlone Marina until the Athlone Main Drainage Scheme is in place as the council will not be applying for a flag until the new sewerage network is up and running, the Westmeath Independent can reveal. The town council did not apply for blue flag status for the marina this year after losing the flag in 2009 due to occasional discharges of sewage into the river. Speaking after the awarding of blue flags by the Department of the Environment on Monday, Town Clerk John Walsh said: "We were refused the blue flag last year because of overflow. Things haven't changed since then." He said there was no point in the council applying for the blue flag until after the main drainage scheme was in place. "The marina does apply with all the standards required except for the sporadic and occasional discharges and we haven't had one in a while," he explained. The discharges of sewage into the river occurs when the overflow system is overwhelmed, usually after flash flooding and Mr Walsh said it has been about a year since there has been a discharge into the Shannon. "Ultimately when the new drainage scheme is there that won't be a problem," he said. Site investigation works for the new scheme are currently underway around the town. However, while Athlone Town Council didn't apply for a blue flag this year, Quigley's Marina in Killinure retained its blue flag for 2010. Proprietor Peter Quigley, who collected the blue flag on Monday, said: "We're delighted to have it again. It's very good news." He said it takes a bit of work to retain the flag year in year out, but said they have a good staff who have the interest at heart to retain the flag. "We're privileged to have it again," he said. Nationwide six flags were lost this year, while five were gained, resulting in a net loss of one flag on 2009. Five Flags were lost as a result of water quality falling below the stringent guideline standard, at Brittas Bay South (Wicklow), Spiddeal Pier, and Traught (Galway), Killala Ross Strand and Louisburgh, Oldhead (Mayo). A further flag was lost at MullagHmore, Sligo as a result of there not being a Life Guard on the beach for the 2010 season and unresolved issues relating to livestock on the beach. Flags were gained this year at Redbarn and Claycastle in Cork, Maherabeg, in Kerry, Rosses Point in Sligo and in Portmarnock. Blue Flags are awarded on the basis of the previous year's bathing water quality results. The Blue Flag results for 2010 were adversely affected by heavy rainfall during the summer of 2009. The criteria for the award of Blue Flags, which are determined by FEE, relate to water quality, facilities for visitors, beach management including litter control, environmental education activities, environmental information and display facilities. The scheme in Ireland is administered by An Taisce. Award recommendations from national juries are assessed by FEE's International jury, which then determines the Blue Flag awards.