‘Forgotten’ Finea in need of urgent improvements

Action is to be taken to explore improvements in the north Westmeath village of Finea, after Cllr Alfie Devine called for the development of a “whole village plan” to regenerate what he described as one of the county’s most neglected areas. Speaking at the November meeting of the Mullingar Kinnegad Municipal District, Cllr Devine said the village had been overlooked for too long in terms of basic infrastructure.

“I’ve been looking at Finea since the election,” he said. “We’ve had a few motions in for small jobs, a pedestrian crossing here, a bit of footpath there, but nothing has really happened. Finea has been one of the most forgotten villages in the north of the county, and people there feel very let down.”

He said he had met residents, who are now forming a local committee to identify funding opportunities and press for improvements.

“There should be a plan made for Finea, and for other small places like Coole and Drumcree,” he said. “Even just basic things, pedestrian crossings, proper footpaths.”.

He said Finea is probably the only village in the country where there isn’t a footpath, not even from the church to the graveyard. “People have to walk out the main road, where cars fly past at 80 miles an hour. It’s a disgrace,” he said.

Cllr Devine said Finea also deserved investment on economic grounds, noting that a local factory, Mr Crumb, provides direct and indirect employment to around 200 people.

“There was some funding earmarked years ago, but it never happened,” he said. “With this new community group forming, now is the time to get plans in place to improve safety for pedestrians and make the village a safer, better place to live.”

In response, director of services Deirdre Reilly said she understood Cllr Devine’s motion to mean that he was seeking practical improvements rather than a full-scale regeneration plan.

“You’re not asking for a Town Centre First plan for Finea, but rather that our district engineer go out and meet the local group to see what could be done in terms of footpaths, crossings, and village improvements,” she clarified.

Ms Reilly said the district would arrange a meeting with the community group and support their efforts through the Public Participation Network (PPN) and the council Community Section, which could assist them in pursuing available funding opportunities.