Taoiseach “must make a clear choice” to back Athlone city plan

The top council officials in Westmeath and Roscommon have jointly written to Taoiseach Micheál Martin urging the Government to make "an explicit choice" to row in behind developer Sean Mulryan's ambitious green city plan for Athlone.

They argued that Mr Mulryan's plan would "establish Athlone as a city in the true sense," but that it would need "a step change" in Government commitment, along with "sustained" public investment.

In their joint letter, Barry Kehoe, the chief executive of Westmeath County Council, and his Roscommon County Council counterpart Shane Cummins, praised Mr Mulryan's Athlone 2040 blueprint, describing it as "a compelling and coherent vision" for the town.

Details first emerged last summer of the multi-billion euro plans for Athlone drawn up by the founder of the Ballymore Group.

The ambitious proposals would see town become a city of 100,000 people by 2040 through developments such as the addition of 20,000 new zero-carbon homes and a 5,000-bed eco friendly student village.

When asked about the Athlone proposals earlier this year, the Taoiseach said he and his officials had met with Mr Mulryan, but that his plan needed more "flesh on the bone" if it was to become a reality.

In their letter, the two council chief executives said Athlone has the potential to become one of the first "planned green cities in Europe" but that this will not happen "without a deliberate and structured Government decision to so designate Athlone, followed by commensurate and sustained public investment".

The local authority officials went on to outline what they feel is required for the green city proposals to be achieved.

This would include, they said, "significant and targeted Government investment in infrastructure... at a scale that matches the designation of Athlone as a priority growth centre above that of comparable towns".

Their letter added: "We are clear-eyed that realising even a substantial portion of this vision by 2040 will require a step change in both Government commitment and public resourcing.

"It will require Government to make an explicit choice to prioritise Athlone - not merely to endorse a concept, but to back that endorsement with investment decisions, legislative and planning instruments, and inter-departmental coordination.

"We do not underestimate the complexity involved, nor do we suggest that this is straightforward. However, we believe the foundations are sufficiently strong, and the alignment with national objectives sufficiently clear, to justify that commitment."

The council chiefs' joint letter pointed out that the Programme for Government contained a specific commitment to "examine and develop a Green City pilot," and it said Athlone was "uniquely positioned" to fulfil that commitment. "We urge Government to move from examination to designation, and to recognise Athlone as the natural home for Ireland’s first Green City pilot," Mr Kehoe and Mr Cummins stated.

In addition, they told the Taoiseach, "we would welcome an early meeting with your office and relevant ministerial colleagues to discuss the pathway forward".