Calls for student bus shelter outside Athlone Town Stadium

The installation of bus shelters at Athlone Town Stadium for students awaiting the school bus service is a must, a local councillor has said.

Referencing the dark evenings and the inclement weather at this time of the year, Fine Gael councillor John Dolan said it was necessary to provide shelter to those students from the three local secondary schools, Athlone Community College, Marist College and Our Lady's Bower, who regularly use the bus service.

"In fairness, the bus collection service has been going extremely well since its introduction, but unfortunately half of the school year runs through a time when dark evenings and winter weather is more prevalent," Cllr Dolan said.

Cllr Dolan acknowledged the need to encourage more students to use the secondary school bus service and "reduce traffic volumes" into Athlone each weekday morning.

"To that end, as a council, we have to deliver on our active travel promise, so a bus shelter is a must for these students. If the National Transport Authority are unwilling to fund the bus shelter, are there any other funding resources available to us?," Cllr Dolan queried.

The bus pick up point for students from the three secondary schools moved to Athlone Town Stadium carpark in November 2023, due to concerns expressed about the safety of the original pick up location on Retreat Road.

This relocation was hailed as a "hugely successful decision" by Cllr Aengus O'Rourke who stated that there had been "no issues" reported by the secondary schools since it commenced from Athlone Town Stadium.

"The last piece of the jigsaw is now for the council to install a much-needed bus shelter for students using this service. The shelter would not require any seating, just the promise of some cover during these dark evenings when the weather cannot be relied upon," Cllr O'Rourke added.

Responding, Director of Services Jackie Finney said that the council had requested funding for the shelter from NTA but unfortunately this was not an option.

"As this is viewed as a climate action initiative, it is a matter for the members to identify a source of funding for a bus shelter at the location. The principle of the idea is a good one so we will do our best to progress it," Ms Finney said.

Funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme