Cut belvedere fee and get people fitter says councillor

Westmeath County Council should introduce “special offers” for Belvedere House and Mullingar Swimming Pool in a bid to encourage people to exercise more.

That’s according to Cllr Una D’Arcy, who says that the introduction of special rates would not only promote healthy habits but would “also generate goodwill towards Belvedere and the council”.

At present, the entrance fee to Belvedere House is €8 for adults and €4 for children. A family ticket (one child) is €20, while a family ticket (two children) is €23, the entrance fee for each subsequent child is €3. Annual membership rates include €82 for a single adult, €120 for a couple and a €150 family ticket that covers two adults and two children.

Noting that single trip entrance rates to Belvedere are prohibitively expensive for many families, especially those that only want to visit the grounds, Cllr D’Arcy says that with both childhood and adult obesity rates on the rise, the council should look at its pricing structure in order to encourage more people to lead healthier lifestyles.

“When I was canvassing, one of the big issues in Mullingar was Belvedere,” said the Sinn Féin councillor. “The view was that while it was a tourist attraction, it was also an amenity for the people of the area and, as such, people should be able to access the estate to run and walk.

“This is a low season. A rate for walkers would increase the use of the venue off season – a time when its fully staffed and open, it will also lead to extra business for the restaurant and generate goodwill towards Belvedere and the council.

“This is the time of year when people start to put in place good habits and are proactive. Any potential special offer should be a blanket offer that is not tied to needing to go 10 times or buying a season ticket – just a 'get in shape’ offer.

“People should be encouraged to come and walk a nice easy laid out route. I would love to see it free, or nominal.”

Cllr D’Arcy says that she would see the council adopt a similar approach at the swimming pool in Mullingar.

“I know that the pool is costly to run but swimming is costly. It would be great to see some water-based fun activities coming down the line for kids too – not just people who already have the necessary equipment.”