Design stage for €2.9m upgrade of Athlone Fire Station underway

By Rebekah O'Reilly

Westmeath County Council has moved into the design stage for the long-awaited €2.9m upgrade for Athlone Fire Station.

The council recently sought tenders for consultants to carry out a full design which will later form the basis for the tender for the construction of the upgrade.

Plans for a revamp of the station were first published in 2016 and granted planning approval the following year, with a commercial BER still required for the new extension and the overall building.

Funding for the project has been substantially increased from the original €600,000 to €2.9m.

The upgrades to Athlone Fire Station will include an extension of the existing fire station appliance bay, renewable energy upgrades, an overhaul of the security system, as well as new lighting additions throughout the station.

Refurbishment of welfare blocks at the station will also be included in the revamp, with accessibility measures being put in place, an overhaul of water and waste pipes, and new heating systems being installed.

The station on Coosan Point Road, which was built in 1984, can currently accommodate four trucks and three smaller vehicles, such as jeeps.

It was previously stated that the project will involve the addition of a four-bay extension to the rear of the building, converting the existing building into an eight-bay station (capable of housing eight fire tenders).

The planned expansion to the rear of the existing station will extend the appliance bay by 160 square metres into the existing yard and relocate the roller doors to the new elevation.

By increasing the length of the appliance bays, two trucks will be able to comfortably park, front to rear, and ready for dispatch.