Plan for revamp of local park could be ready by September

A draft plan to revamp Wansboro Park could be available in September, the latest Athlone Moate Municipal District was told.

The news came after a call on the council to prepare a detailed plan for the upgrade of the park following a successful meeting with local residents and other stakeholders recently.

Independent Cllr Paul Hogan, who put forward a motion on the matter at the July meeting, said that there were a number of ideas thrown around at the meeting, but that a detailed design was missing.

"Consultation with stakeholders is really important. In terms of the overall plan we need a scale that looks at and considers what the members want, and there needs to be detail in it, and it all needs to be costed.

"There will be a gap in terms of funding so we need to know how we’re going to bridge that gap as well and within what timeframe," he added

Green Cllr Louise Heavin supported the motion and said there needs to be more consultation and suggested setting up an online forum to inform people of the plan.

Cllr Heavin explained: "A simple solution would be just to open a forum online that people can share around asking exactly what you’d like to see there to inform a plan going forward and just to get a broader view of what has been brought forward to the executive to date.

"I don’t think we need to necessarily have the funding for the entire plan. As long as the council works with the locals we should be able to see some good transformation in the park down there," she said.

Cllr John Dolan said it "was great to see the engagement" from the residents at the recent meeting and suggested that the council facilitate a delegation in the chamber to speak to locals to see what can be done.

The councillors recently met with local residents to hear their aspirations for the park.

A plan is under consideration in the context of the Community Recognition Fund allocation of €150,000, a playground grant of €15,513 and the imminent evacuation of the site by the greenway bridge contractor. This plan will be presented to members for approval as soon as practicable, following consultation with local stakeholders.

Director of Services, Barry Kehoe, said that "there's no money at this minute for it (apart from the Community Recognition Fund) but I wouldn’t say that that's the end of it."

"We also need to go through a planning process because it its a sensitive enough location being adjacent to the river. Unfortunately, from a residents perspective that will lead to delay so it’s important to tell people that we’re committed."

Mr Kehoe added that he hopes to have a draft plan ready for the September meeting of the Athlone-Moate Municipal District.

Westmeath County Council confirmed recently that it will prepare plans for a revamp of Wansboro Park as contractors on the new greenway bridge prepare to vacate part of the site.

In May, the council was allocated €150,000 from the Community Recognition Fund for work on play facilities and pathway upgrades at the park.

In recent months, residents from surrounding areas, including Assumption Road, Tormey Villas, Ashdale, Woodlane, Auburin Villas, Beechpark, Beechpark West, Beechville, Ardilaun and Priory Park have come together to push for improved facilities at the park on the east bank of the River Shannon.