Plan sought to tackle Athlone traffic 'crisis'

Recent works in Athlone town centre have created "a crisis" in terms of traffic movement, Cllr Kevin "Boxer" Moran has publicly told county council officials.

The councillor raised the subject for discussion at the inaugural meeting of the new Westmeath County Council on Friday last.

He called for the executive to sit down with the elected members from Athlone, to put together "some plan to ease the pressure for the people we so-want coming in to town".

Stressing that while "we all like" the enhancement works, a particular aggravation was the fact that there are five sets of traffic lights between Dunnes Stores and The Crescent, Cllr Moran told officials. That was simply too many lights in too short a distance, he said.

"This week, when the lights were out at the hospital, the traffic never went as well," Cllr Moran said.

He stated that the erection of lights near Carey's pub, had also contributed to what he termed "a crazy, crazy situation", and the result of all the changes was impacting negatively on the town: “We have shops closing, we have businesses vacating premises, and people are travelling out of town on a weekly basis to shop, and I don't want to see that," he said.

Cllr Moran said the traffic lights at McFarland's old store should be turned into a pedestrian crossing.

He said the council should also liaise with Bus Éireann in relation to the bus stop opposite the old doctor's surgery: "I think we should look at possibly removing the path to allow the bus to come in, and put the path behind the wall in at the Fair Green," he said.

Cllr Moran went on to say he believed the lights at Carey's should be switched off until such time as construction work at Northgate Street is completed.

"People are annoyed; they're frustrated, and people want action," he said. "This is a crisis and it's one I don't like to raise in here because I am very much in the forefront of promoting the town and promoting the work that is taking place in the town."

However, he said it would be wrong of him not do so as duing his canvass for the local election, it was the one subject that kept coming up.

"And when you come from east to west and get into a bottleneck on the four roads coming into the town of Athlone, there is something seriously seriously wrong."

Cllr Moran pointed out that he had been "years" driving taxis in Athlone: "And when you have to switch off your phone - your business - at 3 o'clock in the day because you can't get to the customer, it's just impossible, and that's happening right across the town," he said.

"Talk to the businesses - which I have done: they'll tell you their footfall is down because people are not going to stop.

Support came from Cllr Frankie Keena, who said there is "mayhem" in the area. He said the lights are not synchronised, and they are not working properly.

"The lights at St Mary's Square are causing problems," he continued, going on to add that the issues are not just affecting those travelling from east to west but those travelling from the west to the east as well.

Cllr Aengus O'Rourke said that in his view, the way to address the concerns was to link in directly with the district manager and the director, which he has been doing on an ongoing basis since the new lights went in in Mardyke Street.

Continuing, he said he was delighted with the amount of investment that has been happening on the main streets of Athlone, and he welcomed the impending opening of a new pharmacy in the old Ulster Bank premises and an art gallery beside that and the sale and intended refurbishment of Geoghegan's. He said that for the first time since he was a child, all of Mardyke Street is occupied.

"I don't believe the narrative that Facebook is putting out that there are people rushing to other towns to do their shopping: I think that is Facebook warrior nonsense," he said. "Athlone is a thriving town; I say that as a business person based in the town myself, so I can attest to the success of the town."

Cllr O'Rourke said that he did, however, believe that there was a problem with "that single set of traffic lights on our main street", but that he understood some tweaks were being made to it, and he did believe that the director and the manager needed some time to rectify the issue.

Cllr John Dolan said he supported Cllr Moran in part on what he said. There was, he agreed, an issue, and he was of the view that leaving the lights on flashing amber would work.

Cllr Paul Hogan remarked that it wasn't the first time the issue of congestion had been raised, and he understood an update on what's happening is to be presented to area members at their next district meeting.

"Maybe at that stage we can have a full and frank discussion around all aspects, but I understand that there have been various modifications carried out from the section between SuperValu right in to Gleeson Street and on to Golden Island," he stated.

In terms of the suggestion that the light be left flashing amber, he said he understood this not to be a legal setting.

Chief executive Barry Kehoe replied that the issues raised are being dealt with at district level between the director, the manager and the engineer and he anticipated that members will be updated at their next meeting, which takes place on July 1. He promised members that staff would do their best to rectify the issues.