Athlone Senator, Gabrielle McFadden, has expressed her opposition to the proposed westward one-way system for Athlone.
Senator McFadden was speaking last week in response to news that an agreement has been reached in principle for the purchase of the Railway Field, which is seen as a key component for the Church Street enhancement plan.
"I am not in favour of a one-way system, and I wasn't back in 2008 either," she said. "I started the campaign back then, 'No way to the one-way'. I got 4,500 signatures and I sent them to councillors. I went to all of their meetings as I was not an elected representative at the time, and the decision was reversed then."
While welcoming the purchase of the Railway Field in terms of alleviating traffic congestion in Athlone, Senator McFadden said she does not believe the acquisition will make a major impact in terms of reducing traffic associated with the one-way system.
"I can't see how the Railway Field is going to make a huge difference. To have a one-way system in a town like Athlone, I believe you would have to have another street running parallel to Church Street to allow you to duck in and out of it, and we don't have that. No matter what happens, you are going to shut off the Connacht side of town and the Irishtown end, which is what happenend in 2008.
"I would love to see streetscapes around Athlone enhanced, but the whole town, not just some."
Senator McFadden says she is going make a submission to the council during this current public consultation period.
