Future plan sought for land near Cherryfield Avenue

Westmeath County Council has been urged to seek a future use for what were described as "derelict lands opposite Cherryfield Avenue" on the west side of Athlone.

Cllr Louise Heavin, who tabled a motion at a recent monthly meeting of the Athlone/Moate Municipal District on the issue, explained: "The lands themselves I believe are contaminated. They've been derelict for years but they're also open so you can walk in and around which has led to anti-social behaviour.”

The Green Party councillor asked the council to contact the owners and seek them to secure the site to prevent anti-social behaviour. “I think we just need to do what we can for that part of the town," she said.

Supported the motion, Cllr Aengus O'Rourke said: “It certainly comes to the attention of Gardaí in recent months in relation to activity, people breaking into the units and dealing drugs I'm sure. They've broken the locks off the building and those locks were then replaced and they broke those off then.

“Gardaí are well aware of it and they've made several trips and have detained individuals... We need to do all we can to put it right or at least put it to some use.”

Cllr O'Rourke asked if the lands are on the derelict sites list and whether the council had been in contact with the owners previously to issue fines. "There could be a case made given that it's prime for residential development that would help the state and the housing shortage.”

Cllr Keena said that the council had been involved in decontaminating the site and queried whether this process had been completed.

Director of Services for Westmeath County Council Barry Kehoe said: “There may be an issue with contamination on the site. We've engaged with various parties over the years and consultants regarding testing of materials and whatever immediate action is required." He said that the site was probably more suitable for residential development.

Mr Kehoe stated: “Obviously the priority for us is to make sure that the owners take responsibility for the lands and that we support them in that regard. We're not in a position to get possession or ownership of these lands.”

Mr Kehoe said the council wouldn't get involved unless they “had certification that any contamination had been removed from the site or whatever was remaining was of no threat to future occupants. In the absence of that certification I certainly wouldn't be in favour of the council getting involved.”

In a formal written response to the motion, the council said the majority of these lands are in private ownership and have been vacant since their previous use ceased a number of years ago. The lands are zoned to reflect their established use which will be reviewed in the Draft Urban Area Plan for Athlone this year.

It said it would welcome engagement by the owners on the future use of the lands but would not be in a position to take a lead role.