One plan, one Athlone

Westmeath County Council and Athlone Town Council are set to agree to ditch the concept of two different development plans for Athlone. At present, the town council produces a development plan for the urban area under its control and the county council compiles a similar plan for the Athlone environs, focusing mainly on areas outside the town boundary. Now both bodies have agreed that the existing arrangements could be seen as "cumbersome" and could lead to "confusion and inconsistency" Under the terms of the most recent Planning Act, there is provision for one unitary plan in such a situation, if the councils agree. Last week, the county council backed the concept, and last night, the town council was set to do the same. And whilst it is an improvement on the current situation, the fact that the vast suburbs of Athlone on the west bank of the Shannon, under the control of Roscommon County Council, are not included in any 'unitary' plan brings the whole exercise into disrepute. Athlone will never develop in a proper, planned and unified fashion, if it continues to be divided between local authorities on both sides of the Shannon. European elections show political volatility The electoral changes in France and Greece indicate the volatility of the current pan-European political system. Already the dreaded markets have had their say on the decision by the voters of France and Greece - and it's clear that any move to reduce the debt burden on ordinary citizens will be opposed by those in the markets, whose self interest is increasingly being seen as the common interest. The new French leader Francois Hollande is being heralded by some as a challenger to the status quo. And whilst those across Europe who are paying the debts of speculators and bondholders will be hoping Hollande can change the direction of European policy, one only has to look at how his counterpart Eamonn Gilmore in Ireland has sung a completely different tune in Government to have that hope diluted. The growth of the Neo-Nazi Golden Dawn movement in Greece, taking ten per cent of parliamentary seats, is another cause for concern. The last deep worldwide economic depression in the 1930s spawned a decade of violence, hatred and political instability characterised by Adolf Hitler. Unless, the people of Europe demand a different approach to the current European economic problems, we are destined to have another decade of chaos. Anniversaries highlight that Athlone is well served It's a year of anniversaries. Firstly, the RTÉ All-Ireland Drama Festival is marking its 60th year in Athlone. The festival's association with Athlone has been hugely beneficial to the town, culturally, socially and, of course, economically. It's staggering to think that an estimated 250,000 customers have filed into the audience seats at the various venues, latterly the Dean Crowe Theatre, over the sixty years. Similarly, the Athlone Regional Sports Centre, which opened ten years ago this week, has clocked up an amazing 2.5 million user visits in its first decade in existence. It's affordable, accessible and extensive facilities have added a hugely important dimension to the range of local community activities in this town. And Athlone Sub-Aqua Club is celebrating its 40th anniversary this year. All in all, the existence of these three organisations show the variety of local services in Athlone. Sometimes we forget how fortunate we are to have such services close at hand, in the midland's capital town.