North Athlone residents can look forward to an end in neighbourhood delays and upgrade to their wastewater systems this autumn, with news the €10 million Glasson-Ballykeeran-Coosan sewerage scheme is “almost finished”.
This was revealed at this week’s meeting of the Athlone area committee meeting by executive officer, Hugh O’Reilly.
“It’s coming to a conclusion,” he told the meeting about the three-year project.
The councillors had made enquiries as to what the connection charges might be to the new system, and were told that “an information day will be held in September to inform local businesses about the costs of this”.
The connection fee for existing houses has already been advised to the concillors as follows: €200 in the first six months of the sewer being commissioned; €816 between six months and a year; and the full connection fee of €1,711 will apply after 12 months.
“An information date [for businesses] will be advertised closer to the date,” said Mr O’Reilly.
Cllr Frankie Keena urged all businesses and residents living along the route to “engage early” with Westmeath County Council, and it was confirmed the council would meet each business on a one-to-one basis to explain the charges.
AAs with the household fee, connection for a business will increase after six and 12 months to encourage earlyy connection.
The council decided to get an early warning out as it has had a number of interested parties come into the civic offices in both Mullingar and Athlone to enquire as to the costs of re-connections to the new system.
However, as the project is still in the hands of the contractors for at least another month or two, officials felt it more prudent to pre-notify the public rather than promise a date of which it could not yet be fully sure.
Also at this meeting, councillors were updated as to the state of play with the plans for the development of Portlick Forest Park.
“Its design is just being concluded,” confirmed Mr O’Reilly, to the councillors who voted to approve the commencement of what’s called a Part 8 planning process, where a local authority gives itself planning permission.
Mr O’Reilly outlined a “major consultation process” with Waterways Ireland, local equestrian groups and residents of the area, but cautioned “It’s most likely we won’t have funding for it at Phase 1, but the plan is to go ahead with the Part 8 and advertise the plans”.
The council has plans for bridleways, walking routes, a car park that can accommodate horse boxes, an exercise area, and a new slipway and jetty for anglers and cruisers.
“We haven’t as yet done a costing for the overall project, but we’ll do this in the next couple of weeks,” he said.
