Hefty bill for Athlone businesses for outdoor tables

Continental style dining or sitting out along the newly-revamped Church Street in Athlone is set to come with the whopping cost for businesses of €125 per table per year and an application fee of €100.

And businesses can add another €630 to the yearly bill if there is any advertising structure alongside or a hoarding around the seating with the name of the business or branding.
The figures came to light after a draft procedure for the licensing of outdoor seating and signage was presented to councillors at Monday's meeting of Athlone Municipal District in a bid to regularise the situation along the town's main thoroughfare.

Speaking afterwards, Cllr John Dolan, who is Cathaoirleach of Westmeath County Council said he was of the view that this was “sending out the totally wrong message” to businesses in Church Street who have endured more than a year of works and disruption.
“If there are three tables and a hoarding with the business name around them, then you are looking at a grand a year,” he said. “I would propose that the licence fee (€100) be the extent of it for the first year as a trial and see how it goes and look at it again next year,” he stated.
While he accepted the need for a policy on Church Street to ensure there is attractive seating on the street and to regularise signage, he was critical of the lack of “wriggle room” on fees which the executive said at the meeting are laid down in national legislation.
District Manager Jackie Finney said the aim of the policy is to increase the amenity value and vibrancy of Church Street as the best place to shop and visit and increase footfall with seating outside premises.
The policy deals with the types of seating/barriers in terms of design, style and type of materials preferred for seating, along with the use of the two new canopies, which it's suggested are utilised for civic and festival events and for suitable businesses or small enterprises selling food or beverages or markets. A public call for expressions of interest for the use of the canopies will be made on an annual basis.
An expression of interest form is included in the new 13-page document and how to apply for licence for seating or for the canopy use. Not all premises are suitable for seating, and every case will be looked at on individual basis, Ms Finney stressed.
The document now goes out to public consultation for a period of four weeks in a bid to give the public and business owners a chance to make their views known before it is finalised in the coming months.