The controversial gates at the riverwalk under Athlone's town bridge

Controversial Athlone riverwalk gates to go after councillors revolt

Athlone Town Council is to remove controversial gates along the town’s riverwalk just weeks after they were erected.

The move was agreed yesterday (Tuesday) evening following demands by councillors for the removal of gates which they said were unsightly and threatened to cut off a right of way which belonged to the people of the town.

The gates were erected last month at the walkway under the town bridge and adjacent to the Luan art gallery.

The council executive initially argued for the retention of the gates, saying they had been put in place after consultation with the Gardai about addressing and preventing anti-social behaviour at this location.

'As the new boardwalk area forms part of an important town walking route and may form part of the proposed new Dublin-Galway cycle route, it is hoped that these gates will never be closed,' said the council executive in a written response at Tuesday's monthly meeting of the local authority.

'The facade of the Luan Gallery is vulnerable and the boardwalk is suitable for loitering. In this context, it is proposed that these gates be retained for the present in a locked open position and that any proposal to close the gates would be brought before the members of the town council for prior approval.'

This was not accepted by the members, who argued that the gates simply had to go.

Cllr Kieran Molloy had a written question on the matter, while councillors Aengus O'Rourke, Paul Hogan and Gabrielle McFadden each had motions calling for the gates to be taken down.

Speaking to the Westmeath Independent today (Wednesday), Town Clerk Hugh O'Reilly said the local authority would be getting in touch with the contractor who put up the gates in order to ask for them to be taken down.