Census shows importance of Athlone

The Census statistics released last week are the first batch of what will be a series of in-depth insights into the demography of 2011 Ireland. The preliminary results have already thrown up many interesting elements; not least that the urban area of Athlone now contains more people than the formal urban centre of Mullingar. Of course, these statistics are predicated on the precise location of formal town boundaries and their adjacent rural environs, as defined by the CSO. It's clear that the wider Mullingar hinterland has a deeper population base than the Athlone region. However, the fact that urban Athlone is now more populous than urban Mullingar, at least, underlines the argument that Athlone should retain its own town council. Fears that the axing of town councils would weaken Athlone's position are very real. Here is a town that's now bigger than its sister town, Mullingar, where Westmeath County Council is based. And the census figures also reveal, if you take into account those parts of Athlone Town Council on Athlone's westside, that there are over 7,000 'Athlone' people living across the Shannon. Of these, in excess of 4,500 are officially in County Roscommon. And Athlone's wider hinterland in South Roscommon could contain anything up to 7,000 people, depending on your definition. This shows that any future local government structure in this region, which does not take into account Athlone's central role across two counties, will fail to harness this town's potential. One-way system plan must be carefully thought through There are growing rumours that the one-way traffic system, which was furiously opposed by some business interests in the town of Athlone, may well be on its way back. Athlone Town Clerk John Walsh last week said that talks between the town council and CIE over the acquisition of land to enable the planned Railway Field Road to go ahead were progressing well. Mr Walsh did also stress that funding to build the road would need to be sourced. But whatever the doubts about finding money to construct the project, it's abundantly clear that Athlone Town Council and Westmeath County Council envisage the four-lane road as a key part of the future traffic management plan in the town. It must be accepted the plan for the road has already gone through a formal public consultation process when first unveiled four or five years ago. However, times have changed, and the initial dry-run for an albeit scaled-back one-way system did not meet with universal acclaim locally. The fact that the funding to give the town centre a facelift as part of an ambitious urban restoration plan, which was to go hand in glove with the one-way system, is also no longer available also detracts further from the merits of the one-way system. In that context, the local authorities should ensure that the one-way plan is both financially worthwhile, will not impact further on already hard-pressed town centre businesses, and has the support of the town's people before progressing further. In fact, putting the plan back out to public consultation through the Part 8 planning procedure (the process by which a local authority seeks public views on one of its own planning projects) would be a welcome move. Farewell to Town Clerk John Walsh The announcement by Town Clerk John Walsh that he is to step down marks the end of an era in local government in Athlone. He has been at the helm of Athlone Town Council for 28 years and has spearheaded and guided the growth and development of the town during those years. There were genuine and well-deserved tributes paid to him by town councillors at last Monday's meeting. Probably no other individual has been so pivotal in the modern history of Athlone. Now we must ensure the post of town clerk is maintained in Athlone in order to ensure his legacy to the town is preserved and that Athlone continues to grow and prosper.