A couple of months ahead of schedule the council is to launch a pilot scheme for the sponsorship of its roundabouts.
In September director of services for Mullingar David Hogan told a town council meeting that “due to unforeseen delays it will be 2014 before any money accrues from roundabout sponsorship”.
However, this week, the council announced the roll-out of a scheme to seek such funds in a pilot scheme across six towns in the county - Athlone, Mullingar, Kinnegad, Moate, Castlepollard, and Tyrrellspass.
“Applications are invited from interested companies, organisations, or individuals who wish to progress their corporate social responsibility endeavours by enhancing our county’s built environment while benefiting from advertisement opportunities being offered on selected roundabouts in any of these six towns,” said a spokesperson.
“We propose to allow the sponsor to erect two simple and discreet signs on each roundabout. These signs, which will be subject to the approval of Westmeath County Council, will preferably show the name and logo of the sponsor. It will be the responsibility of the successful tenderer to have their signage fabricated at their own expense,” he added.
In 2010 town councillors voted to enhance 22 of the roundabouts around Mullingar using a total of €500,000 collected from paid parking.
Eight of these have been completed, and two more were agreed upon at the September meeting, when it was revealed the average cost of the work on each was €20,000, with an annual maintenance cost of €3,000.
The proposed pilot signs will be a maximum of 1200mm x 400mm (4’ x 1’3”approx. ), and will be located at two points to be agreed with the sponsor.
No alternative or additional signs will be allowed, and they will be returned to the sponsor at the end of the sponsorship duration.
The council propose to plant each roundabout with bedding plants, and will maintain the landscaping of each roundabout. It will not be responsibile for damaged or vandalised signs.
The sponsorship duration will be for an initial period of eleven months commencing in January 2014.
Details are available at www.westmeathcoco.ie where a sponsorship tender form can be downloaded.
Maps showing the available roundabouts, together with a description of their approach roads, have been attached to this document.
Additional information can be obtained from the Property Management Department, County Buildings, Mullingar Co Westmeath, or by e-mailing [email protected] or by phone on (044 ) 9332193.
Closing date for receipt of completed applications is Friday November 15, 2013 at 12pm.
