Moate Action Group set to hold public meetings in bid to revive town

Moate Action Group has said it will hold public meetings to get people more engaged with the town.

The action group was set up in 2014 and Secretary Peter Dolan said the town is facing the same issues as any small town in rural Ireland.

“One of our aims is to address how we're going to face the future. On the last count I had there were 20 vacant businesses on the road through the town. We have to look at how we can approach this.”

Mr Dolan cited shopping online as a major change for businesses in recent years. He said that as a result people need to think outside the box.

“I'd like to think our work influenced Minister Heather Humphreys in picking Moate as the town in Westmeath which is going to benefit from the scheme (Town Centre First.) I'm looking forward to sitting down with consultants and saying: 'What's the plan?',” added Mr Dolan.

According to the action group secretary, traffic is an ongoing issue in the town and there are still difficulties with parking. He explained: “We have identified things around the town which require a multi-disciplinary approach. We need to address issues of vacant buildings and work closely with the council on that. There is a certain amount of dereliction as well.”

Mr Dolan said they also need to galvanise businesses in the town into engaging with the 'Town First Scheme.'

The group is also examining the introduction of shop enhancement schemes.

Mr Dolan also highlighted that the town has a catchment area of around 10,000 people when Moate Business College and the schools are taken into account. “Most times parents don't just pick up their kids. They go into a shop or do some other business in the town. We haven't been able to capitalise on that yet.”

“Some towns aren't going to survive. One of our aims is to make Moate the best little town in Ireland to live in, educate in and work in,” concluded Mr Dolan. The group is currently based in the library in the town.