Athlone Tidy Towns launches new three-year action plan
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Athlone Tidy Towns is encouraging local residents associations to sow wild flowers as illustrated in this example. Funding for seed purchase is available.Image 2 of 4
This scene of illegal dumping on land owned by Westmeath County Council was highlighted by Athlone Tidy Towns. The dumping was cleared subsequently.Image 3 of 4
Each Good Friday, Athlone Tidy Towns organised a community clean up event.Image 4 of 4
Members of the Athlone Tidy Towns’ weekly Wednesday club with locals on the Roscommon Road. Pictured are Padraig Higgins, John Butler, Pierce Murphy and Paddy McLoughlin.Athlone Tidy Towns has launched its new three-year medium-term plan 2021-2023, which aims to make Athlone an attractive place to live in and visit.
The plan, carried out in conjunction with Sharon Eastwood from Woodrow Sustainable Solutions and supported by Westmeath Community Development and the LEADER Programme, sets out key areas and goals for the Athlone Tidy Towns for the next three years, including streetscapes and public spaces, green spaces and landscaping, nature and biodiversity and sustainability.
Some projects to be completed in 2021 include developing a marketing strategy for Athlone Tidy Towns, registering all unoccupied/derelict properties in the business district, supporting the maintenance of iconic structures and the running of activities and workshops for residential estates to support the All-Ireland Pollinator Plan.
Among the plans for 2022 include colour scheme support being offered to businesses along main thoroughfares and the development of Green Dog Walkers resources for each residential estate.
In 2023 the team aims to support further pedestrianisation of agreed streets and the undergrounding of overhead wires, and to commence the concept of Athlone being Ireland’s first town totally free of single-use plastic.
“This process started as early as August 2019 where we sat down and thought about how we can aim to achieve the ambitions of a very ambitious Tidy Towns group,” said Sharon Eastwood at the launch of the plan.
“The Athlone committee have a dream to win gold, and having been involved in the competition for a number of years I will say that you have the ingredients and the personnel to make that happen.”
She explained that the plan revolved around the eight different adjudication categories for the competition, and stated that biodiversity, sustainability and working across a community are key areas to work towards.
“It is an ambitious plan, as it should be. The important thing now is to work hard and keep driving forward. The social capital in Athlone is really strong.”
Gerry Johnson from Athlone Tidy Towns said that the public good will for their work is “huge and very rewarding.”
“I want to particularly thank our former chairman John Butler who brought us through this process over 15 years. We have a great team, and they’re not afraid to go out and get their hands dirty.”
Mayor of Athlone Aengus O’Rourke welcomed the plan and complimented the work of the Athlone Tidy Town committee and volunteers.
“Athlone Tidy Towns is a wonderful organisation. It’s wonderful to see the improvements and the initiatives and projects that the team is involved in come to life and blossom.
“Athlone has huge potential, and for so many reasons it is absolutely crucial that we have a town that is well-presented and looking its absolute best,” he said.
“It’s not just for our citizens or the casual visitor or tourists that we should be doing this for, even though they are very important. Nowadays multi-national companies place importance on the quality of life that can be offered to staff and their families. They want a modern, vibrant, and pleasant location with excellent facilities for their staff.
“There’s a lot at stake here. There’s a real economic consideration in how we present our town, and a well-presented town is now the minimum standard on so many levels.”
Councillor Louise Heavin also welcomed the plan and said she was excited for the points made about shopfronts, signage and derelict buildings.
“Improving the appearance of a street will feed into how people will want to use the street,” she said.
“A lot of us still use our cars in some places because some streets are not pleasant to walk down. The council are working on ways to improve walking and cycling access on our streets, so this plan marries well with that.
“It’s really exciting and I hope the people of Athlone come on board with all the different initiatives, like sustainability in terms of takeaway containers and park and stride with schools.”
Councillor Frankie Keena also said the plan was exciting, and that he hoped to see more of an uptake on the shopfront enhancement scheme.
“It’s beneficial, and we’re behind a bit with that comparison to Mullingar. There are some prime buildings that could do with it and if we can encourage that it would be great.”