Residents of Marine View have been afforded significant funding towards a community environmental project.
The welcome news has been positively received within the neighbourhood and has been a cause to the fore of Town Mayor, Cllr. Aengus O’Rourke, Cllr. Frankie Keena and Cllr. Jamie Moran in recent times.
The grant totalling €32,325 from the Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment, is for the enhancement of a corner plot in the estate which is deemed in need of much renovation.
Announcing the welcome news, Cllr O’Rourke thanked his public representative colleagues for their united approach to the project.
“My Councillor colleagues and I worked together to ensure that Marine View would be ‘top of the list’ should the funding become available this year and as Mayor I am pleased to announce that Marine View has indeed been successful.
“The grant amount of €32,325 from the Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment is for the enhancement of a corner plot in the Marine View estate which badly needs to be renovated. It has for too long been overgrown and untidy. The disused plot will receive a complete overhaul and when finished will provide the residents with a quality restful garden/park area for all to enjoy.
“Projects like this show that co-operation always wins out in the end. The Councillors working closely with the residents and local authority officials was crucial to this grant award.
“The residents of Marine View are rightly very proud of their area and want the best for their estate. I believe that this may well be the start of a very positive ‘new beginning’ for Marine View. I am assisting the neighbourhood with the establishment of a new residents association, hopefully bringing new people on board and continuing the good work of the past.
“In terms of this plan, the residents will feed directly in to the design and the final outcome will be led and driven by them. The children of Marine View will be central to the planting and painting at the site so that everyone can play their part in making this a real success for the local community as a whole.
“Finally, I want to thank Frank Dolan of Athlone Municipal District and Ruth Maxwell from the Enviornment Section of Westmeath County Council for their huge assistance with this matter and ultimately for securing the money, it simply would not have happened were it not for their work behind the scenes,” Cllr. O’Rourke asserted.
Echoing similar sentiments, Cllr. Frankie Keena welcomed the positive development which will enhance the Marine View neighbourhood.
“I very much welcome the approval of €32,325 from the Department towards a community environmental project in Marine View.
“The area in question is a public corner garden in the neighbourhood which has become overgrown and fallen into disrepair over the years. The enhancement of this garden has been on my agenda for some time and now I am absolutely delighted that funding has been granted for the work.
“The feedback which I have received to date from the residents in Marine View is very positive and they are looking forward to engaging with the District on the type of works to be carried out.
“In general terms, the draft proposed works will include the complete clearance of all overgrown scrub and litter, installation of raised flower beds and paths and the provision of an attractive mural on the walls. It is so important that the resident’s views are also incorporated into this final plan,” Cllr. Keena asserted.
Cllr. Keena implored the need for complete community engagement during the implementation phase of the environmental project.
“Community engagement and involvement during the implementation stage of the project is also necessary. Any residents with whom I have engaged to date are eager to be involved with this environmental project. There will also be an opportunity for local children in the estate to assist the artist with painting the mural on the wall.
“It is about giving residents ownership over the project and I thank them for their offer to help.
“I sincerely want to thank Athlone Municipal District and the environmental section of Westmeath County Council for all their work and assistance in submitting this application to the Department and I look forward to assisting the residents with this project,” Cllr. Keena concluded.
