Plans approved for new €70m Westmeath sports centre
Plans for an estimated €70m new regional sports centre and swimming pool for Mullingar have taken a major step forward.
Members of the county council approved the plan for both the town centre and Robinstown elements of the development, after county chief executive Barry Kehoe presented a report setting out the points raised during the public consultation process, which ran from July 28 to August 26.
The project now moves on to the detailed design stage, and preparation of documentation for contracts.
“At the same time, we’ve got to seek further funding and we’ll be looking for your assistance in that regard,” Mr Kehoe told members.
The estimated cost of the overall project is €70m.
“And while the council is in a position to put up a proportion of that… we will be looking to government for a significant proportion,” he said.
He further explained that the council has its sights set on obtaining assistance from the Urban Regeneration Funding scheme due to announced either later this year or early in 20026.
The development is to see an eight-lane 25-metre swimming pool, a 20m x 8m teaching pool and splash pad provided, together with a 12 court multi-use sports hall, a gym and studios and then reception and ancillary spaces.
What’s described as a ‘public plaza’ is to link the development from its site at Blackhall to the town centre.
Mr Kehoe said that at present, a parking strategy is being devised to accommodate visitors to the centre, but he also envisaged that a lot of children might walk to the pool after school rather than having to be driven to it; the new bus service would also open a transport option, as would improvements in the Active Travel infrastructure.
In terms of the Robinstown development, he said that submissions from the Office of Public Works drew attention to the fact that the site may be subject to flood risk.
He said, however, that given that the development consists of sporting facilities rather than residential development, the council was happy that it can put in appropriate measures to protect the site.