Residents delighted with rezoning failure

"It's a victory for local democracy" a delighted St Francis Terrace resident Mary Dolphin-Thornton said to the whoops of the waiting crowd on Monday evening, speaking just minutes after plans to rezone a site on Station Road, Athlone, for a 10-storey building failed to get approval from Athlone Town councillors. Support was needed from six members to pass the controversial change in zoning, but the proposals were halted in their tracks after the council members were deadlocked, with four in favour of the change and four against the plan "It's a great day for democracy in Athlone," Mary Dolphin-Thornton said in the wake of the meeting but she was clear that their opposition will not stop there. "This is just a battle though, we're arming for a full-scale Tudor war." She also praised Mayor Sheila Buckley Byrne for having "the guts to stand up" and be counted." Describing the plans as "ridiculous" she said the developers had no tenants for the proposed building, and the jobs argument comes at a major cost to local residents, who, she said, already endured grave hardship during the building of Athlone Towncentre. Meanwhile, Tony Martin, Treasurer of St Francis Terrace Residents Group told the waiting local media after the meeting that he was delighted with the outcome. "It would be a fierce intrusion on a quiet area," he said, while another woman living in the area, Marina West echoed his sentiments. "We went through hell with the Athlone Towncentre development, we had to take the streets to protect the children with builders coming in and out. I'm delighted this hasn't passed through" Finally, Dermot Dunning from Southern Station Road said he has lived there since 1935 and he was thrilled that council members backed their cause and didn't allow the re-zoning through. Mr Dunning also expressed concerns about the adequacy of the road network to cope with a 10-storey development. Admitting the matter will probably be appealed to An Bord Pleanala, he pledged his intention to continue to fight for his neighbourhood pointing out that the site had been a green area right back to the 19th century and he didn't think the council had the right to change the zoning of it now.