Bastion Quay flood defence wall in Athlone to be raised despite residents’ concerns

Westmeath County Council has approved plans to raise a section of the flood defence wall at Bastion Quay in Athlone by 300mm, despite objections from residents over its visual impact and questions about the need for the works.

The Part 8 proposal was approved by councillors at their June meeting in Mullingar, and will see approximately 110 metres of the existing flood defence wall between the Bastion Quay apartments and the Shannon Weir apartments increased in height.

The scheme also includes raising a demountable flood barrier by 300mm, relocating almost 98 metres of existing railing, installing a further 11 metres of new railing, and cladding the raised wall in stone to match the existing flood defences.

The council approved the development in line with chief executive Barry Kehoe's recommendation, subject to the submission of an updated Construction and Environmental Management Plan before works begin.

The council says the additional height is necessary following refined hydrological and hydraulic modelling of the River Shannon, which identified the need for increased protection against future flood events.

Athlone has experienced major flooding in recent decades, most notably in 2009 and 2015, and the Bastion Quay works form part of wider flood protection measures developed through the Athlone Flood Alleviation Scheme.

The report states the upgraded wall is intended to better protect homes and property from increasing flood risks linked to climate change.

Only one submission was received during the public consultation period. It came from MEP Ciaran Mullooly, on behalf of Bastion Quay residents, and it questioned why a further increase in the wall's height was necessary when the existing defences had already been approved under the 2018 flood relief scheme.

Residents argued the higher wall would reduce river views, create a greater sense of enclosure and have a significant impact on residential amenity.

They also suggested that glass flood panels, similar to those installed elsewhere along the Shannon, should be considered instead to preserve views.

The submission also queried whether the proposal was proportionate, noting that during previous flooding water had entered the area from adjoining lands rather than overtopping the existing wall.

Residents further expressed dissatisfaction with what they described as inadequate engagement by the local authority and sought clearer explanations for the revised design.

In response, the council's chief executive said the existing wall, approved in 2018, had been built to a lower level than is now required following updated flood modelling. The revised design, he said, is needed to provide protection against a one-in-100-year flood event while maintaining an appropriate freeboard allowance.

The report states that Westmeath County Council and the Office of Public Works held several meetings with directors of the Bastion Quay Management Company and residents between July 2025 and May 2026.

A full-scale mock-up of the proposed raised wall was also constructed to allow residents to assess its appearance before the Part 8 application was lodged.

Following further discussions, the council agreed to review the design of the capping stone on part of the wall to reduce its height while maintaining its security function.

The council also rejected the suggestion of using glass flood walls, saying they had only been used in very limited locations on the Athlone Flood Alleviation Scheme where heritage considerations required them.

According to the report, glass panels are not considered suitable at Bastion Quay because of their higher cost, shorter design life, increased maintenance requirements and vulnerability to vandalism.

Officials concluded that a stone-clad wall matching the existing flood defences represented the most appropriate long-term solution.

The chief executive, Mr Kehoe, concluded that the development was consistent with national, regional and local planning policy, would not adversely affect local amenities or heritage, and would strengthen long-term flood protection for properties along this stretch of the River Shannon.

Cllr Aengus O'Rourke commented that the OPW had been the lead agency in relation to the development of flood defences. He wondered what part they play in regard to this new proposal. He also asked who would be funding the work.

Mr Kehoe responded that in fact, the Athlone flood defence works had been a Westmeath County Council project, and that would continue to be the case up to completion. However, he continued, the OPW had been funding the work and supporting the council in delivering the measures, which has worked well.

“The council has appointed consultants and the OPW have come in then and carried out the development - almost as a contractor on behalf of the council as the scheme proceeded - and it worked very well,” he stated.