Lilliput presentation for July meeting

(Above) The boat house at Lilliput.

A presentation on measures being taken by Westmeath County Council to improve bathing water quality at Lilliput on Lough Ennell is to be made to next month’s meeting of Athlone Moate Municipal District.

In a motion before the June meeting, newly-elected cathaoirleach of the municipal district, Cllr Liam McDaniel, expressed concerns about the fact that a Blue Flag has not been restored to Lilliput. He called on the council and other relevant bodies to “immediately develop and undertake a planned programme of measures” aimed at improving water quality to the level where Blue Flag status can be restore and swimming can resume.

Cllr McDaniel received support for his motion from Cllr Tom Farrell, who endorsed the call for a planned programme of measures, and director of services Barry Kehoe confirmed he would request the environment section to give “a detailed presentation” on Lilliput to the July meeting.

In their written response to Cllr McDaniel’s motion, the council outlined how a detailed presentation on the current status of the designated bathing water locations in Westmeath, and the plan of actions being undertaken at Lilliput, had been given to a meeting of the Environmental SPC meeting on May 21 last. It added that the presentation could either be shared with members or given to a future district meeting.