A seven year wait comes to a head this week when the expected decision on the demolition of Athlone Community School is delivered to its trustees. Plans for a new, three-storey, 8,400 sq m building as well as a PE hall and playing fields have been with the planning department for a number of months and a decision is due on October 8.
Education continues to feature large in the planning news around the county this week as Presentation Convent, Mullingar is awaiting a decision on its application to replace a prefab with a 182 sqm, purpose-built autism unit with its own secure play area.
Also, three pre-schools have been given conditional permission in Kilbeggan, Cullion and Moate.
In Tyrrellspass, an application has been submitted this week for a second 18-hole golf course and a 100-bed hotel at the New Forest Golf and County Club. A decision on this is expected some time in mid-November.
Elsewhere in the hospitality arena, Joe McCormack has been given a green light to convert the ground floor of his guest house in Moate into a restaurant, while McDonalds in Mullingar has applied to extend its weekend opening hours from 1am to 4am.
The only other permission of note is that given to Recycle Concepts Ireland who have been given the go-ahead to convert an existing warehouse in Forest Park, Mullingar into a storage facility for the conversion of plastics and waste oil into diesel fuel.
In the still quiet home building field, the only stand-out application is from Darren Shine, who hopes to build seven 3-bed townhouses in Bogganfin, Athlone. A decision is due here this week.
