Bus Shelters

In 2022 Milltownpass Tidy Towns carried out a community survey via our social media channel asking the community for feedback on where our focus should be in terms of local issues that need urgent attention. A lot of the feedback we received centered around the longstanding need for bus shelters for the high volume of commuters who use the local bus services. We had feedback from frustrated commuters and residents – one said people take shelter in their doorway and sit on their windowsill on wet days while waiting for the bus!

This clearly was a major issue for locals so we set about engaging directly with the National Transport Authority and Westmeath County Council via the PPN and through our local county councilors.

In December last year we received an update from Cllr. Hazel Smyth that she had raised the issue at a recent Strategic Policy Committee meeting and that the council had agreed to recommend 2 bus shelters for Milltownpass as part of the NTA programme of just 10 shelter installations throughout County Westmeath.

“In January 2023, we received an update directly from the NTA that they had discussed Milltownpass in their January planning meeting and after a study of the existing bus stop locations a number of concerns were raised that would require further scrutiny. Those concerns related to the boundary lines of private property ownership, in addition to possible adverse effects on affected parties and adjacent premises in the vicinity of the bus stops.

It was agreed at that point that further enquiries and on the ground research would be conducted by Westmeath County Council.

In May 2023 we had a meeting with Pat Nally, district engineer on the Active Travel team for Westmeath County Council. Facilitated by Cllr. Smyth, the purpose of the meeting was to do some of that ‘on the ground research’ and to investigate potential alternative locations where bus shelters would be suitable. Two preferred options were discussed, one for the eastbound shelter and one for the westbound shelter. However the proposed location for the eastbound shelter would require landowner consent. So Pat tasked us with approaching the landowner to gain the required consent. Unfortunately the consent was not forthcomming. Irrespective we ploughed forward with a new proposal to go ahead and relocate the eastbound bus stop even if it didnt include a bus shelter (for now!) given that the existing bus stop location was less desirable.

We wanted to ensure we had the full support of the wider community and in particurlar with the revised proposal to go ahead and relocate the eastbound bus stop so in July 2023 we held a public consultantation to discuss the proposal and any questions or concerns to arise. The following was unanimously agreed by all attendees:

1) Eastbound Side (e.g. towards Kinnegad): - Bus Stop to remain in its current location - New Bus Shelter will be installed (see pictures below) - Footpath widened to accommodate shelter.

2) Westbound Side (e.g. towards Rochfordbridge): - To be moved from existing location to outside Church carpark entrance (directly opposite existing Eastbound Stop) - Bus Stop only, no shelter at present as landowner consent not given. - Upgrade to existing footpaths to enhance kerb and surface and slight widening to facilitate bus stop move.

In October 2023 we recieved conformation from district engineer Pat Nally that works on the new eastbound shelter are schedued for January 2024 and discussions are almost complete with the NTA regarding the relocation of the westbound bus stop.

We expect a final update in the coming weeks so watch this space!