Athlone - How to improve it!

Occidental

First off, this is not a piss take, as I reckon Athlone could be improved a hell of a lot if the town council got their finger out and tried it.

The biggest problem the town seems to have is traffic, especially on the bridge and along Church St/Gate St. During the day you take your life in your hands just walking along here, as the paths are too narrow and there's always someone waiting to run over you if you put one foot on the road.

I would like to see the whole area pedestrianised. It would breath some life back into the town centre(as opposed to Golden Island) and you could end up with an area similar to the pedestrianised area of Galway(okay, you need lots of imagination).

The second problem that could be sorted out is tourism. During the summer thousands of cruise boats pass through the centre of the town, but very few stop. In fact the cruise hire centres actually advise people not to stop in Athlone, due to lack of security and poor facilities. Some improved secure mooring could change this situation overnight.

porno

how about we all go out and dig it up and replant it

Kalina

The roads are fairly bad in Athlone alright. Golden Island is a deadly shopping centre but the last time I was over there I was stuck in traffic for more than 10mins trying to get into the centre of town at the roundabout at Dunnes. But I doubt the council wll do anything about their condition and they can't straighten or widen them so I guess nothing will change.
As for the tourism side of things the town should launch some sort of incentive program to try entice tourists in like special offers for boat parties at restaurants, reduced entry fee into the castle etc. Maybe that would help!

The_Conductor

Big improvement was knocking down the Prince Of Wales hotel.
Why did they just leave a mad hole in the ground though- what are they putting up in its place?

Occidental

In theory a new bridge could be built across the Shannon south of the weir (through Burges's Park would be a good start) though I can't see the callows/environmental lobby being too happy.

The large hole where the Prince of Wales stood, is already an improvement on the Prince of Wales. It is however to be replaced by a new Prince of Wales within the next year. Also the old shopping centre is due to be redeveloped (think it's the Texas crowd from Tullamore?)

elexes

ye ive to tavel there every day to that place and i must admit its a total dive . there is almost nothing to do in it once 6pm hits

the roads there are pritty bad but at liest one thing the ring road means you can toaly miss the town a well saying all that ive to work in it ... well for the next few months ...

The_Conductor

Thank God, its slowly being dragged out of the timewarp that left it somewhere in the late 1950's. The next little trick will be to try and do something about the flooding. Mass migration to Longford anyone?

porno

athlone is one of the fastest developin towns in ireland at the moment
pity the council dont see this


there aint a great nightlife here
bout 300 pubs and 2 disco bars
athlone needs a proper nightclub

elexes

not reely nightclubs .. it would be nice to see one good big one in it with sound bouncers but tbh the dj's there are all crap . i know one good dj in the town that used vinals but guess what .. there is no where in the town that will let him play / dont have vinal decks . he has gr8 ones of his own and would move them to a club but no where is willing to let him do this ..

porno

thats what im tryin to say

i use vinyl myself

TOWN

Have to say the council have a lot to answer for,Athlone has g8 potential,
Killkenny for eg,has as much as Athlone,(castle and things)but for some reason killkenny can pull in so many people at weekends and at summer months the place is alive with tourists,they have class night life,good music and shows,no investment in this town.
I have lived in Athlone for 20 odd years,ill give it another 10 years and the place will be a total pit,crime drugs if somthing is not done, hope fully ill be somewhere else at this time.
Golden island and the revamp of burrgess park are a welcome.
the river looks nice apart from the $hit thats in it,ohh and the revamp of the old cinema,

TomTom

The best way to improve Athlone is to demolish it!

<Joke>

Occidental

Originally posted by TomTom
The best way to improve Athlone is to demolish it!

<Joke>

No need, if you leave it a few more years most of it will fall down of it's own accord.

Still, the Prince of Wales is starting to take shape once again. I believe it is now owned by the same gang as the Skeffington Arms in Galway. Anyone from Galway like to comment on wheather this is a good or a bad thing.

elexes

a well the students are back now and ive already seen a difference in the town ... if anything it may make it a bit more exciting

Silencer

Don't put all the blame on the UDC for the traffic problems. You should watch the gob****es driving! I have lived here for 3 years and every day I am amazed at the poor standard of driving and parking which inevitably lead to traffic problems.

I have seen people going around roundabouts the wrong way and driving on the wrong side of the bypass on numerous occassions. It's a wonder there aren't more deaths.

Only last Tuesday I watched dumfounded as my neighbour drove out of her driveway, straight across the road and into the ditch. I **** you not. Darwinism will wipe out the whole town one of these days.

In general they are nice people down here but I don't think the gene pool would miss too many of them.

porno

cheeky bastard

and what makes u think ur more intelligent than everyone else

OHP

I have to agree. Athlone is going backwards. Ok there is a new Bypass (which not a lot of people use) but the traffic congestion is really bad and bottlenecked in some places like that place beside Kilroys stores. The suggestions for a new bridge that could be built across the Shannon south of the weir (through Burges's Park) is actually a really good idea and would solve a lot of problems but no doubt one that will fall on deaf ears. For the whole area to be pedestrianised would mean a lot of walking for some people and thus a healthier and safer lifestyle and Wheelchair access should also be made into ever shop / pub etc. It was said that Athlone might become a City in the near future. But in order to do that it should have a proper Hospital / roadway structure / Ambulance Service / updated Fire Service etc. The whole layout of the town needs to be looked at and thought out properly. As for tourism, last time I passed the Shannon I counted 43 Boats all moored. So I don't see a problem there? As for the Prince of Wales Hotel, was there not an article in some paper about them not having planning permission to actually raise it to the ground?


OHP

porno

yeh buildin had to stop on it for a while but it got the go ahead again

OHP

More Brown Envelopes again I bet! :rolleyes:


OHP

OHP

Tried getting through Athlone today and ESAT BT had all the paths dug up at the Church. Whats all that about anyone know?


OHP