The official opening of the new housing scheme at Woodside, Castletown Geoghegan was performed this week by chairman of the Kilbeggan Area Committee, Cllr Paul Daly.
The scheme is an extension to the current housing scheme at Woodside, and the opening was attended by the tenants of the new houses as well as members of the Oireachtas, Rev Seamus Giles, and members of Westmeath County Council.
The development consists of six housing units comprising four three-bed and two two-bed houses, and was described this week as “very cost effective” by the council as it was carried out on lands already in the ownership of the council.
Speaking at the opening, Cllr Daly thanked contractor Michael Bracken & Sons, Ballycumber, complimenting also the council’s own housing staff and technical staff who carried out the design. He thanked the county manager, director of services, staff of the council’s housing section, and fellow elected members who approved the construction of this project, and also acknowledged the provision of funding from the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government.
Cllr Daly added that he was delighted to see the tenants who would occupy these houses present, and wished them many years of health and happiness in their new houses. He urged them to become part of the community in their estate and in the area.
The location of this housing development in Castletown Geoghegan is close to the school, church, shops, and sporting facilities and represents the first houses built in the area by the council for 10 years.
According to Westmeath County Council, developments such as this are vitally important for the future growth of areas like Castletown Geoghegan, which did not benefit from any major private residential investment during the boom.
It is expected the provision of the wastewater treatment plant in Castletown Geoghegan in 2009 should attract new private developments in the future, as well as alleviating drainage concerns for existing residents. The capital investment in both of these projects by Westmeath County Council in the last two years was over € 2.5 million.
