Published: Wednesday, 23rd June, 2010 5:00pm

Chinese project is truly mind-boggling in scale

Rumours that a world trade fair style development could be on the cards for Athlone have been widespread in business and political circles for some time.

The scale of the reported development is mind boggling, with up to 10,000 jobs mooted if the project were to come to full fruition.

To put it into some sort of perspective, it would be similar to locating two Intels on the outskirts of Athlone - or 200 Elans.

This sort of development would utterly change the face of Athlone and requires serious and careful consideration by all legislative, planning and local authorities.

Plans for the project have been underway for some 18 months, and it's understood that a planning application, if one is to materialise, is likely to be lodged in the coming months.

Westmeath County Council has prepared a zoning blueprint for the greater Creggan area, which would pave the way for a development of this scale and size.

The draft Creggan area local plan was presented to members of Westmeath County Council on Monday last.

The council plans to develop Creggan as "an enterprise zone with an international profile with employment opportunities for both indigenous and inward investment - significant potential for foreign owned and domestic owned high value industry, including high end, specialised trade, manufacturing, financial, business services and other commercial activities."

It's noticeable that the plan, provides for a new railway station at Creggan, as well as a new primary school.

The plan indicates, that, depending on the intensity of the devleopment, a number of junctions on the M6 motorway/N6 by-pass may need to be upgraded to cater for increased traffic capacity.

These are likely to include the M6/N6 Junction at Creggan, the Garrycastle Junction, the Ballymahon Junction and the M6 Farnagh Junction west of Moate.

These hints give a clear indication of the sheer size of the project - and the impact it would have on the town.

Athlone would become a city, almost overnight, and its focus would clearly move eastwards, if the project was not properly integrated into the town.

There is talk of casinos, hotels and so on, but until the plans are published, it would be hasty to rush to judgement.

However, what is clear is that a phenomenal amount of preparatory work would be required if a development of this scale was to be progressed.

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