Plans for 12 new electric vehicle charging spaces in Golden Island

Planning permission has been granted for the removal of 18 existing car parking spaces at the Golden Island Shopping Centre car park in Athlone, with those spaces now due to be replaced by 12 new electric car parking spots.

The planning application for the changes at the car park was made by Hall Power Limited on November 22 last with approval granted by Westmeath County Council on January 22, subject to three conditions.

The plans for the site include the installation of a new prefabricated substation building and two distribution charging units within the existing Golden Island Shopping Centre car park.

This will cater for six electric car charging points, for a total of 12 electric car parking spaces. The electric vehicle charging spaces will replace 18 of the existing parking spaces.

A planning report by Yvonne Haughey, executive planner with Westmeath County Council, concluded that she had "no objection from a planning perspective to the design and siting of this substation structure and associated EV infrastructure," and recommended granting planning approval.

The area where the new electric parking spaces are to be installed is to the north of the car park, across from Belhavel and behind the bus stop on the Golden Island road.