Mobile hot tubs could be on way to Athlone

The provision of mobile hot tubs, saunas and ice baths could become a reality at lakeside amenity areas in Athlone after a motion came before the July meeting of the local municipal district calling for such facilities to be made available.

While the motion from Cllr John Dolan received the full support of the meeting, Cllr Liam McDaniel admitted that he didn't even know mobile saunas existed until he went to Lilliput over the weekend and saw one in operation. “I didn't even know what it was and I had to ask someone and it was only then that I was told it was a mobile sauna,” he said. To the amusement of his colleagues, the Kilbeggan-based Fianna Fail Cllr added: “I didn't go into it myself but a lot of people were queuing up outside it, so it seemed to be a great success anyway.”

In supporting the motion, Cllr Frankie Keena said a lot of people in the Athlone areas “like to swim early in the morning” and he felt that the addition of mobile facilities such as hot tubs and saunas would be “a great addition” to the existing lakeside facilities.

Cllr John Dolan said a number of companies are interested in providing such facilities and he suggested that they could be installed by the council “on a trial basis” to see what the uptake from members of the public would be like. In his motion, Cllr Dolan called for expressions of interest in the provision of mobile facilities such as hot tubs, saunas and ice baths at lakeside facilities such as Coosan Point, for example, “to enhance the visitor experience.”

Cathaoirleach of the municipal district Cllr Louise Heavin, said that, while she supported the motion, she would have “concerns” about locating such facilities at Coosan in view of the quality of the bathing water in the area.

In their written response to Cllr Dolan's motion, the executive of Westmeath County Council acknowledged that such facilities are becoming “increasingly popular and can enhance the offering at lakeside amenity areas.”

They further stated that, wuile the council is open to facilitating the provision of such facilities, this will require a policy to ensure that the location and management of such facilities is in keeping with the environmentally sensitive nature of the proposed locations. “Such a policy will be prepared for the consideration of the Members at the Transportation and Planning SPC for September 2023” said the reply.