FLASHBACK: The plan to build 120 council houses at rear of Talbot Avenue in Athlone
From Westmeath Independent, Friday, February 10, 1984
THE proposal to build a scheme of 120 local authority houses on the 13-acre parcel of land at Ranelagh, Athlone, which was made available to the Urban Council before Christmas by the IDA, will require a variation of the Athlone Development Plan to rezone the land for residential use.
Westmeath County Manager Jack Taaffe told a meeting of the Council on Monday night that Section 39 of the Local Government (Planning and Development) Act, 1963 prohibits the Council from effecting any development within its functional area which would materially contravene the Development Plan.
For this reason he successfully sought the council's approval to begin the procedure required by law before any variation of the Development Plan can be made.
In order to proceed with the proposed housing the zoning of part of the 13-acre site will have to be changed from use for recreational open space and industrial development to residential use.
Part of the procedure involved in affecting a change in the plan is the public display for a period of three months of the draft variation during which time objections to the variation may be made by the public to the Planning Authority.
After the display and objection period has expired the members must then consider all valid objections and having done so, decide on the variation of the plan by resolution of the Council.
Since local authorities are exempt under Section 4 of the 1963 Planning and Development Act from the requirements of a planning permission for developments undertaken by it within its functional area, the Talbot Avenue Residents Association, which is opposed to the proposals, is expected to object to a variation of the Development Plan.
Fears have also been expressed that the proposed development, were it to go ahead, would destroy the traditional riverside amenity known as 'Number One'. Many objections to the rezoning, based on this fear can also be expected. However, from a site map showing the proposed development which was circulated to members on Monday night, it can be seen clearly that 'Number One' is well away from the actual housing area and would form part of the developed recreational or 'green space.'
Commenting on the plans on Monday, Mr. John Keenehan said that he would not support any plans harmful to 'Number One, but rather he would fight for the development of a fresh water swimming pool there.
The objections of the Talbot Avenue Residents are based on plans to use the avenue as an access road for the development. They feel that the increase in traffic generated by the scheme would create an unacceptably high risk of danger to people using the avenue.
However, also on Monday, the County Manager revealed that he has taken steps to secure a second access to the site and is awaiting a reply from two people.