Boxer says street enhancement must happen

Representatives of traders groups across Athlone are expected to meet top Athlone Town Council officials later this week to discuss the future of the one-way traffic system. The ongoing discussions come as one councillor, who had vociferously criticised the system, has now said he believes it should be pursued. Cllr Kevin "Boxer" Moran who admitted he had clashed with fellow councillors and council officials on the issue, said he now felt it was important to understand the end picture. He said the proposed regeneration of Athlone"s town centre was crucial for the town. 'This is not just about the one-way system. We have to decide if we want the street enhancement or not,' he said. Cllr Moran also urged the council to publish a brochure on the proposed street enhancement project in order to better publicise the future benefits for the town. He now called for all traders to lend their backing to the system. 'I want a unanimous decision. I want us all to move together for the benefit of Athlone,' he added, arguing that the street enhancement project would improve the entire town - and help to promote Athlone as a business location. He further argued the one-way system had improved and with more modifications to come, it would improve even further. 'I think perhaps I might have jumped at what people were saying to me about the system, rather than going out to see for myself,' he said, referring to his previous criticisms of the system. He added that as a taxi driver, his experience of recent days was that the system was bedding down with many of the issues being resolved. However, he admitted there was two hold-up areas in particular that were now concerning people - the Ballymahon Road and the Southern Station Road, between 8.40am and 9.10am each morning. Cllr Moran said some of the hold up on the Ballymahon Road could now be attributed to extra traffic coming into Athlone from the new dual carriageway, rather than via the Dublin Road, as previously. Those who had, up to the opening of the new N6 dual carriageway, experienced traffic jams back to Ballydonagh landfill or the Birr turn as they waited to enter Athlone, would understand the change, he explained. Boxer said he believed progress had now been made on the one-way system - and although he understood the concerns of traders, he felt: 'We need it to happen because of the streetscape project.' And he called for a date for a definitive decision, sooner rather than later, on the future of the system. 'Traders are saying there is no-one going into town, but everyone is facing the downturn,' he argued. Referring to criticisms voiced publicly that some retail locations in the town had been given preference in relation to the erection of signage, he said such businesses had sought and received permission and had sustained huge costs to erect the signage. Cllr Moran said the Director of Services Barry Kehoe had now agreed the council would erect information panels, outlining the shops and outlets, in each area of the town. He said the traders would be asked to contribute to that, but the maintenance and design would be taken on by the council. 'We want to promote everything in the town,' he insisted.