Call to bring sewer main to Fardrum and Coosan areas

A local councillor has said that if Athlone is "ambitious about expansion", the Municipal District must strive to expand the upgraded main drainage sewerage system to areas "such as Coosan and Fardum" in the future.

Cllr John Dolan said the recently upgraded main drainage scheme should have been expanded further to accommodate future housing expansion in the town.

"How are we going to deal with such a situation when the time arrives and there is further potential for housing developments?

"Hopefully, Uisce Éireann can come up with a plan to expand the main drainage scheme to allow for future housing developments in Athlone. We certainly have the capacity now to deal with such growth in the town," Cllr Dolan said.

The councillor called on the district executive to correspond with Uisce Éireann and request its support for the expansion of the network to include "these residential areas in future investment plans".

Cllr Frankie Keena said there was a great need to extend the sewerage system and "bring as many houses as possible onto the line" to enable future expansion.

A spokesperson for the council executive said the expansion of wastewater infrastructure, including to areas such as Coosan and Fardrum, was the statutory responsibility of Uisce Éireann.

"Following the recent upgrading of the main drainage infrastructure in Athlone, any further extension of the sewer network will be dependent on Uisce Éireann’s capital investment programme.

"Sewer network expansion may also arise through developer-led projects, where infrastructure is delivered in conjunction with new developments. Such proposals are guided by the council’s development plan and are subject to agreement with Uisce Éireann," the council spokesperson stated.