Strand seating 'will be back for summer'

Local councillor John Gibbons has said funding is now in place for the reinstatement of the public seats at The Strand in Athlone, and that the popular riverside seating should be in place in time for the summer tourist season.

The Garnafailagh councillor raised the issue at a recent meeting of the Athlone Moate Municipal District, where he called for a letter to be sent to the Office of Public Works (OPW) seeking funding for the reinstatement of the public seating at The Strand.

The benches along the Shannon at that location were removed due to work being carried out in the area as part of the €114 million Athlone Main Drainage Scheme.

Speaking to the Westmeath Independent last week, Cllr Gibbons, a long-time supporter of Minister of State Kevin 'Boxer' Moran, said 'Boxer' had indicated that funding was now available to allow the seating to be installed there again.

"It's expected that it will be in place for the summer," he said. "The seating enhances The Strand area, as it is a quiet space to rest and view the waterway."

He said he wasn't aware of how much the restoration of the public seating in the area would cost.

Cllr Gibbons added that the delivery of the Athlone Main Drainage Scheme "remains on target," and that all works were still expected to conclude by the end of this year.

The massive project began in April of 2023, and involves a complete overhaul of the town's wastewater infrastructure, including the installation of some 2.8 kilometres of underground sewer pipes.