Renewed call for enterprise hub in former RTC building
A co-working enterprise hub in the centre of Athlone needs to get the green light as a matter of urgency to prevent a dilapidated building from falling into further disrepair.
This was the view expressed by local Fianna Fail Cllr, Aengus O'Rourke, who has called for the establishment of a “modern economic support facility” incorporating an educational element in partnership with TUS in the former Athlone Regional Technical College building on Northgate Street.
“It pains me to see this building in such a dilapidated state in recent years,” said Cllr O'Rourke.
“It is a commanding structure in the heart of Athlone and it needs to be repurposed and put to good use as soon as possible.”
A feasibility study and plans were drawn up to repurpose what was known as the Old Tech building into a co-working enterprise hub during Cllr O'Rourke's term as Mayor, with the assistance of funding from Chamber of Commerce and the Just Transition Fund.
“These plans were shared with TUS, and both Westmeath County Council and TUS agreed that an enterprise hub was the way to go,” said the local Fianna Fail Cllr, who added that he held a recent meeting with TUS President, Vincent Cunnane, to discuss progress on the proposed project from the perspective of TUS.
“The President assured me that University management are working hard to move things along as quickly as possible and are working on advanced design plans for the building which will be shared with the council in due course.”
Cllr O'Rourke said that “substantial” Just Transition funding is available for an enterprise facility in Athlone, and that the capital funding would be available were the council to submit an application. “The sooner we do this the better” he said.
The local councillor has said he has been left in “no doubt” about the commitment of TUS to the establishment of an enterprise hub in the abandoned Northgate Street building, after his meeting with Vincent Cunnane, and he has pledged to continue working towards making the new facility a reality.