Athlone Town Council axed, Westmeath to lose three councillors

 

Athlone Town Council will cease to exist next year, as part of a major restructuring of the country’s local government system.

Details of the changes were released today as part of a report by a special Boundary Committee established by Minister for the Environment and Local Government Phil Hogan.

The Minister said he has accepted the report in full and will be making the necessary orders to give effect to the changes in due course. The new system will come into effect for the 2014 local elections.

As part of the changes, Westmeath will lose three county councillors, from 23 to 20, and have its number of electoral areas reduced from five to three.
However, the Athlone area will gain a county councillor – although the town council will be abolished.

The Boundary Committee report has recommended that Westmeath County Council operate three municipal districts: Athlone, Mullingar/Kilbeggan and Mullingar/Coole, with seven, six and six councillors respectively.

At present, there are five electoral areas, Athlone, Mullingar West, Mullingar East, Kilbeggan and Coole.

The new Athlone municipal district will account for all of Athlone Town Council’s electoral area, as well as parts of the west side of the existing Kilbeggan electoral area.

The townlands to be covered are Ardnagragh, Athlone East Rural, Athlone East Urban, Athlone West Urban, Auburn, Ballybroder, Ballymore, Ballymorin, Bellanalack, Carn, Castledaly, Doonis, Drumraney, Glassan, Jamestown, Kilcumreragh, Killare, Killinure, Moate, Mount Temple, Moydrum, Muckanagh, Noughaval, Streamstown, Templepatrick, Tubbrit, Umma and Winetown.

A bid by Westmeath County Council to take control of the Monksland area of Athlone which lies within the control of Roscommon County Council failed.