PROJECT BACKGROUND

Athlone (Baile Átha Luain) is a vibrant town located in the Midlands Region in County Westmeath. The thriving town is the largest in the Midlands Region and is a centre for agricultural, industrial and tourist activities in the region.

Athlone town has had a long history of serious flooding, the most significant in recent years occurred in 2009 and 2015. Flooding in Athlone is mainly caused by flows from the River Shannon and its tributaries.

To address the issue of Athlone’s flooding the Shannon Catchment Flood Risk Assessment & Management (CFRAM) Study is currently being advanced by the Office of Public Works (OPW) in partnership with Westmeath County Council and other local authorities.

As part of the CFRAM study a draft Flood Risk Management Plan has been developed for the study area with the proposals for Athlone being proceeded separately to the Shannon CFRAM process.

Consultants were appointed in April 2017, to identify appropriate flood risk alleviation measures for Athlone Town with a view to these measures being implemented as soon as practicable.

KEY OBJECTIVES

The Office of Public Works (OPW), in partnership with Westmeath County Council and other Local Authorities, have commissioned the Shannon Catchment Flood Risk Assessment and Management (CFRAM) Study.