Temporary closure of Athlone car park with Shannonside seating to return "in coming weeks"

The long-awaited restoration of the riverside public seating benches along the The Strand in Athlone will be carried out "in the coming weeks" according to a Westmeath County Council official.

The update comes as The Strand car park is to close temporarily next week in order to allow surfacing works to be carried out.

A council notice said the car park would be closed from Tuesday, May 5, to Friday, May 8, while a contractor carries out surfacing works in the area, on behalf of the local authority, between 8am and 5pm each day.

"Access to parking in The Strand car park will be suspended for this period," said the council.

"A traffic management plan will be in place and local access will be permitted. We request that residents exercise extreme caution when entering/exiting their premises.

"We regret any inconvenience caused, and we appreciate your cooperation in the course of the works."

The public seating benches that had been a popular gathering spot along The Strand during times of good weather were removed a number of years ago, with their reinstatement put on hold due to work in the area on the Athlone Main Drainage Scheme.

The return of the benches has been delayed on a number of occasions, but when asked for an update this week by the Westmeath Independent, District Engineer Willie Ryan said the new benches will finally be in place "in the coming weeks".

He said the council has purchased the benches and some bins for installation, but it was "waiting for a cessation of construction activity in The Strand before seating reinstatement in order to avoid the seats becoming damaged".