Westmeath County Council has carried out more than €9m worth of road, drainage, parks and community projects across the Mullingar Kinnegad district so far this year.

Senior engineer Pat Kavanagh presented councillors with an update at their September meeting, showing that 72.7 per cent of the €13.1m works budget had been spent by the end of August. The remainder will be drawn down by year-end.

Among the highlights were 53 regional and local roads resurfaced, 89 roads surface dressed, and 12 out of 17 drainage schemes completed. The new Castlepollard Town Park has opened, Kinnegad Town Park is nearing completion, and the Clonmellon playground has been completely rebuilt.

Other projects included hedge-cutting notices (up to 350 per day issued in the month), landscaping of roundabouts on approaches to Mullingar, repairs to Mullingar swimming pool, the extension of Ballyglass cemetery, and preparations for new bus shelters in advance of the long-awaited local bus service.

“We’ve put together a €13.1m programme and it will all be delivered,” Mr Kavanagh told members. “It’s great to see projects like Castlepollard Park already being so well used.”

Ballyglass seating

Meanwhile, tree trunks removed from Ballyglass cemetery could be transformed into seating, councillors heard at the meeting.

Cllr Mick Dollard suggested that where dangerous trees had been cut down, some of the remaining wood might be repurposed as benches or resting places within the cemetery grounds. “A number of local people have been asking me if Westmeath County Council might look at the possibility of creating some kind of a seating arrangement on one or two of those trees that have been felled. I think myself that's an excellent idea,” he said.

In reply, district engineer Mr Kavanagh said the proposal was being costed and a quotation for the work would be sought.