Motorway service station plans on hold

Plans to build a fully-equipped service station on the M6 between Athlone and Moate are being put on the long finger due to government cutbacks. The National Roads Authority has confirmed that nine out of 12 proposed 'pitstops' nationwide are under review, due to the current economic climate. A spokesperson for the NRA said that the M6 project is now on hold due to a lack of funding as it was to be funded purely through government capital. 'It will be built, it"s now a matter of when. The problem primarily is money,' he said. '2011 is still our target but we"d be fortunate to make that unless funding becomes available next year.' The facilities for the service station would have to include 24-hour services, public toilets and showers, food provision from 6am to 10pm, parking facilities for cars and heavy goods vehicles, and indoor and outdoor children"s play areas. It was expected that the service station would be opened in 2011. The plans for the service station which would be located at a site in Fassagh, nine kilometres east of Athlone, is before An Bord Pleanala, following an oral hearing in early April. A decision is due by the end of June confirmed a spokesperson for ABP yesterday (Tuesday). The NRA, Westmeath County Council, An Taisce, the Department of the Environment, Aidan Cunniffe and Jim Hughes, and the M6 Concerned Businesses Action Group made submissions relating to the Environmental Impact Statement. Four submissions were also heard in relation to the compulsory purchase acquisition phase of the project. Some locals are concerned that a service station would adversely affect businesses in Athlone and Moate. Fine Gael Cllr John Dolan said he and some local residents have a number of serious concerns in relation to the development, including the disruption it could cause to local farming practices and the possible effect of a reduction in the level of business received by established traders in Athlone and Moate. But AA Roadwatch has criticised the postponement of plans for the motorway service station. Conor Faughnan said that driver fatigue is a major concern as it can be the cause of fatal road accidents. He added that truck stops were an important part of safety infrastructure.