Tourists are complaining about the condition of Judy’s Harbour in Lecarrow and maintenance works are needed, members of the Athlone Municipal District heard recently.
At the recent meeting of the MD, Cathaoirleach Cllr John Keogh asked that the council carry out maintenance works, such as grass cutting and weeding, at Judy’s Harbour, and to do so on an annual basis.
The area is a tourist spot and complaints are being made by visitors, he said, adding that the lack of maintenance undermined the county’s tourism strategy.
The council responded that it would carry out maintenance works in the area on an annual basis. Works were recently carried out at the location.
Cllr Keogh said he had received representations about the condition of Judy’s Harbour, including complaints from tourists.
“They said that the area didn’t reflect how it looked in the pictures and that they were disappointed,” the Fianna Fáil councillor said.
He said that the picnic table areas were overgrown and he wanted this addressed, particularly during the summer months.
“It is an amenity and it is important that it is maintained.”
Cllr Laurence Fallon supported the motion. He said that the harbour was a beautiful amenity but had deteriorated badly. He thanked the council for its maintenance works but said that it raised an important point about ongoing funding for upkeep.
“We are very good at securing funding,” he said. “But very often when we do the work, we don’t have a long term maintenance plan.” He called for long term maintenance plans to be submitted as part of development projects, “either by the council or the funding agent”.
Cllr John Naughten also supported the motion and agreed that maintenance plans were essential.
“Certainly the issue of grass cutting on the Monksland walkway has been raised with me.”
