Plan predicts population growth of 8,000 in Athlone

The views of the public are currently being sought on a plan that Mullingar area councillors fear will hinder population growth in the eastern half of Westmeath.

The draft Regional Spatial and Economic Strategy RSES for the Eastern and Midlands region is currently out for public consultation – a process that ends on January 23, 2019.
The document projects population growth of 13,500 in Westmeath by 2031, but, controversially, designates Athlone as host to 8,651 of that number.
At the maximum projected growth, Westmeath would see an increase in population levels to 102,500 from the 2016 Census level.
A summary of the contents of the draft RSES was given to members of Westmeath County Council’s Planning and Transportation SPC last week by Orla McGann, a senior planner with the county council.
Ms McGann told the members that Westmeath County Council will be making a submission on the contents of the RSES, and that the executive will make a presentation to councillors setting out what the submission contains.
Ms McGann stated that the 200-page draft was published on November 5, and it sets out a strategic plan and investment framework for the nine counties in the Eastern and Midlands region, and it replaces the Midland Planning Guidelines.
The growth strategy identifies Athlone as a “regional driver” supported by key towns, of which Mullingar is named as one.
As a regional centre, Ms McGann continued, Athlone would have both significant population growth and significant economic growth.
A Joint Urban Area Plan (UAP) will have to be prepared in conjunction with Roscommon County Council to provide a coordinated planning framework for Athlone and the RSES supports the development of Athlone as an urban tourism destination and supports regeneration projects and public realm improvements.
Mullingar, the county town, is identified as a “key town”, to act as an economic driver and the plan foresees it as a strategic employment location to improve its economic base. Specifics mentioned include identification of opportunities for the regeneration of Columb Barracks and St Loman’s, and it also suggests town centre enhancements and public realm improvements, together with promotion of tourism linked to the Dubln-Galway greenway.
SPC member John Geoghegan remarked that Athlone was “very well looked after” in the draft, but when it comes to population projections, Mullingar is the poor relation.
“Over 100 years, we’ll become a village and Athlone will become a city,” he stated at the meeting.
Director of Services, Barry Kehoe, responded by explaining that the projected population growth figure for Athlone would come partly from growth in the Roscommon portion of the town, meaning the growth figure wouldn’t all come from the overall Westmeath growth figure of 13,500.
He also stated that a specific population growth figure for Mullingar had not been identified.
“It’s being left to the County Development Plan to allocate population for everywhere except Athlone,” he stated.
Cllr Tom Farrell said that the growth projected for Athlone worked out at an average of just 643 people a year, of whom 483 would be on the Westmeath side.
He felt the figures for Mullingar needed to be greater, and also the figures allowing for growth in the rest of the county.
“One thing we don’t want to do is divide the county,” he said as he proposed a meeting that would consider just the growth.
Also concerned over the population figures were other councillors including Cllr Sorca Clarke who said the “imbalance” needed to be addressed, for the sake not just of Mullingar but towns such as Castlepollard and Kilbeggan.
“We don’t want empty towns and villages,” she stated, while Cllr Liam McDaniel remarked that the document was “wishy-washy” in its references to rural areas, which are, he said, “closing down”.
“I’d welcome both Mullingar and Athlone being targeted as towns for development: that’s great for Westmeath and we have to welcome that. But I have a concern stiill about the smaller towns and villages,” he said.
Committee chair, Emily Wallace agreed, saying it should be “more targeted”, and she said she felt it would be worth itemising on the council submission, the great features Westmeath has.
“I think we’re a bit shy in shouting about what we have,” she said.
Mr Kehoe said the council is conscious that half of the population does live outside Mullingar and Athlone but these towns need to grow for the benefit of the economy of the county.