€800k plan for jetty and bar at Ennell
Plans are being drawn up for a new hospitality and leisure amenity at Lough Ennell.
Speaking to the Westmeath Examiner yesterday, the chairman of Mullingar Chamber of Commerce John Geoghegan revealed that the plans for the proposed development include a bar and restaurant and a floating jetty for boats. It’s estimated the project will cost in the region of €800,000.
Two potential locations on the shores of Lough Ennell have been earmarked and Mr Geoghegan says that discussions are ongoing with a number of stakeholders. He believes that there is “huge potential” for a lakeside leisure development in the Mullingar area.
“It is about using the amenity that is there because at the minute it is completely under-developed. We think there is a lot of demand out there for people to use amenities like the lake. We are trying to partner up with a couple of local groups,” he said.
While the plans are still at a preliminary stage, Mr Geoghegan is hopeful that the project will go ahead.
“It will be a really sensitive design and will really fit in well to the setting. The floating jetty will be like the one on Lake Windermere. It is a beautiful little thing. It’s very simple and not rocket science.”
“It’s an agenda we want to push as hard as we can because we think it is a great opportunity to do something by the lake.”
At last Friday’s virtual meeting of the council’s Economic Enterprise Development and Tourism Strategic Policy Committee (SPC), Mr Geoghegan asked that €15,000 from the council’s Economic Development and Promotion Fund be allocated for a feasibility study for the project. The chamber is also due to meet local councillors and members of the executive to discuss the project in the coming weeks.
Speaking at the meeting, he said that there is a “unanimous agreement between all the elected members of the council that the lakes are under-utilised”.
Mr Geoghegan also told that SPC that the chamber has been in discussions with a “number of benefactors who are supportive of our scheme”.
Expressing support for the project, SPC member Cllr Emily Wallace said that Westmeath lakes are lakes “are our most valuable asset”.
“They are costing us nothing, the only cost is to promote and advertise what we have,” he said.
SPC chair Cllr John Shaw said that the project appeared to have a lot of potential. “Unless we do a feasibility study we will never know how far we can bring it,” he said.
Director of Services Barry Kehoe told the meeting that under EU law Westmeath’s lakes are Special Areas of Conservation and Special Protection Areas for birds.
“There would be a significant planning issue to be addressed around an appropriate assessment of any large scale development in the vicinity of the lakes. That’s just a flag I have to wave from a planning perspective.
“I would be happy to engage with the chamber if there is more information available so that we could form a more informed view on it.
“Certainly any project that allows us to make better use of the fantastic amenity that the lakes are here in Mullingar and across the whole county is to be welcomed. We very much welcome more engagement and to see how it can be progressed.”