Council still planning Athlone river boardwalk and outdoor pool

The installation of a boardwalk and outdoor swimming area along the eastern river bank of the Shannon in Athlone "has a good chance of happening," a top council official said this week.

The boardwalk and swimming pool in the river had been mooted at various stages over the years, and some concerns were previously expressed about the proposals by residents in The Strand and Griffith Street areas.

At this week's meeting of the Athlone Moate Municipal District, Cllr Paul Hogan asked for an update to be given on "the provision of an outdoor pool on the River Shannon".

He felt it was "timely to put this back on the agenda," as it was a project which could potentially be a "tremendous" and "unique" addition to Athlone's tourism offering.

The written reply to his motion from council management said the local authority intended to appoint a consultant this year "to design a boardwalk from the new Greenway bridge to Burgess Park, and that this boardwalk would incorporate a swimming area.

"Thereafter, the project will be subject to a planning process and the council will seek to identify a source of funding," the council stated.

Cllr Hogan acknowledged there were "some mixed emotions" in relation to the proposals, "but through the planning process it would be good to tease out what those issues are, specifically."

He also recalled a visit some of the councillors had made to the Office of Public Works headquarters in Trim, in December 2018, where they were presented with "potential drawings of how (the outdoor swimming pool) might look".

Cllr Frankie Keena said that although the project had been discussed before, there was "never anything concrete about how it might be progressed," and he was wondering if a timeline for its development might be drawn up.

"I think it's a great idea and should be examined in full," said Cllr Aengus O'Rourke, who said he expected that any consultants appointed by the council would have to liaise with Waterways Ireland on the project.

He said there would also have to be consultation with local residents, noting that the boardwalk idea had prompted some concerns before.

"People jumped to the conclusion that it was going to replicate Bachelor's Walk, in Dublin, which wouldn't be my vision for the boardwalk," he said.

"There are many examples of boardwalks that are really tastefully done and successful, and link many different facilities and amenities.

"I think this is badly needed, because we need to maximise the benefit that we get from the majestic River Shannon."

Cllr John Dolan said the local residents were "the first people that we need to talk to, because if there is antisocial behaviour they are the people who are going to have to deal with it."

He felt that the project "needs to be teased out," and asked if the provision of a bathing or swimming area would mean the council would have to provide a lifeguard service to go along with it.

"My recollection is that the area where this bathing area was proposed was right outside a funeral home, which wouldn't be ideal for either," added Cllr Dolan.

"I don't want to pour water on the fire, but there's a lot of scoping to be done here to make sure that this works."

Council Director of Services Barry Kehoe said the development "hasn't gone off the agenda as a potential project to further develop the town's tourism offering and to make the most of a really nice area of the town, down at The Strand, Burgess Park, and the bridge.

"I think there's a good chance of it happening, because it has so much to contribute, but I take on board all of the concerns that were raised regarding the residential amenity of local residents."

He said the boardwalk would be "expensive to build" and what the council had in mind was "something substantial, that might be 4, 5 or 6 metres wide, with plenty of room on it for everybody".

He said it was envisioned that the boardwalk would be designed in such a way that it would "enclose an area" of the river for swimming.

"We have consultants working on an urban design framework for the town and we have asked them to consider what might be possible, between the cycleway bridge and Burgess Park, and what might be an appropriate location for an open water swimming area in association with a boardwalk".

Mr Kehoe said he anticipated that funding for the boardwalk and swimming area would have to be sought from Fáilte Ireland, and a Department "urban regeneration" fund.

"We are at a preliminary stage, so I wouldn't worry too much about the funding," he said.

He added that the bigger challenge would be "to get through the planning process with a project that's acceptable to the members, and the environmental authorities, and would be something that would work and be an addition to the town."