Council to consider installing benches and planters on Connaught Street
Westmeath County Council is considering erecting benches and installing planters on Connaught Street and O'Connell Street in Athlone subject to identifying appropriate areas for the benches.
Mayor of the Athlone-Moate Municipal District Cllr Louise Heavin has called for these works to be carried out in advance of the regeneration streetscape plan for Connaught Street because the council “don’t know when that’s going to happen,” she said.
Speaking at a recent meeting of the Municipal District, Cllr Heavin said: “I know many of you are aware of the great work that went on on Connaught Street in August. At key points leading up to Heritage Week as part of that the council outdoor staff moved up some planters with trees in them to some locations on Connaught Street and it made a big difference to the street and they’ve had very good feedback about them.”
The Green Party councillor highlighted that the introduction of the planters was a temporary arrangement for Heritage Week but hopes that they will remain there for Culture Night later this month.
Cllr Heavin said that one comment from the recent public meeting with the Connaught Street group was that was that there was no seating on the street.
“If you’re elderly or meeting someone you might like to sit down somewhere along the street and there is a couple of kind of recesses that could accommodate a bench so I’m happy to liaise with the executive on those locations,” remarked Cllr Heavin.
Cllr John Dolan supported the motion and said that a few planters are in order. He added that the planters “can be moved to suit whatever we want to do there in the near future so I can’t see a problem with it really.”
Cllr Frankie Keena also supported the motion, saying that planters would “enhance the area and would be
welcome.”
The council said it would consider Cllr Heavin's request and subject to identifying appropriate areas for benches and planters, funding for works can be considered for next year’s programme.