Council clarifies position on season tickets for Belvedere
Season ticket holders for Belvedere House, Gardens and Park are relieved this week after Westmeath County Council clarified that any who wish to avail of lost days because of Covid-19 lockdown closures on expired tickets can do so.
Belvedere was closed from January 9 to April 25, a total of 107 days, and last week, season ticket holders received a letter which many interpreted as saying the lost time would only be added once the season tickets were renewed.
The letter read: "In recognition of the loyalty of our season ticket holders, the council have agreed that any member who lost days will have it applied on renewal of their ticket."
Late on Friday, however, the manager for the Municipal District of Mullingar Kinnegad, Pat Keating, clarified the position following a query from the Westmeath Examiner.
"I wish to clarify that any lost days due to Covid restrictions for season ticket holders to Belvedere will be added to tickets on renewal and season ticket holders have been notified of this. However if any ticket holders wish to avail of lost days on their expired tickets, this will be accepted."
Belvedere had come up for discussion at the April meeting of the Municipal District of Mullingar Kinnegad, where it was stated that it would reopen from this week (Monday April 26) as part of the phased reduction of Covid restrictions – but the swimming pool and libraries would not.
At that time, there were no plans for refunds for Belvedere season ticket holders, who were instead receive to extensions of the validity of their tickets.
Cllr Ken Glynn raised the issue, stating that there had been a lot of frustration over the loss of access to the walkways at Belvedere, while Cllr Emily Wallace remarked that not all users of Belvedere were happy that the council had extended their membership after the previous lockdown, and she too felt they should either be credited or have their money refunded.
Cllr Aoife Davitt also felt the issue of a rebate was important – and she also felt it was important that the council ensured the public was aware that when Belvedere reopens, access is only for ticket holders or people who book online in advance.
Responding, director of services Deirdre Reilly said she understood the intention is to extend the membership to take in account of the time that Belvedere was closed. "However we will look into the issues you have raised there," she said, adding that she could not confirm anything with regards to rebates because she had not discussed that question with her team.
Ms Reilly assured members that the council would use social media to remind people that they have to book before they arrive at Belvedere.
Other services
Listing the status of other services in view of the relaxation of restrictions, Ms Reilly said that the county council offices will remain closed. Services are available by telephone, email, by post, online, and if otherwise necessary, by appointment only.
She said that all council playgrounds, play areas and parks remain open; Mullingar swimming pool and Athlone Regional Sports Centre will remain closed; Athlone Castle and The Luan Gallery remain closed and the libraries will remain available for online services only.
"Road maintenance will continue and we will start our programme of roads works for this year, so that is a positive thing," she said, adding that this would start on Wednesday of last week.
Ms Reilly said street sweeping is ongoing but at a reduced level and there will be limited weekend sweeping.