FG councillor questions Belvedere closure

A county councillor has questioned why the walkways at Belvedere House and Gardens were closed to the public last week.

Westmeath County Council announced on Friday that Belvedere House and Gardens were closing in response to the return to Level 5 Covid-19 restrictions.

The decision, however, has been questioned by Fine Gael's Cllr Emily Wallace. Speaking at this morning's online meeting of the Westmeath Joint Policing Committee, Cllr Wallace wondered whether the closure of the popular amenity was necessary.

Noting the importance of regular exercise to maintaining people's mental health, Cllr Wallace said that most people living within 5km of Belvedere are located outside the town and do not have footpaths on which they can walk or run.

“For many people in a rural setting Belvedere Gardens is their only safe place to walk,” she said. She also asked if there was any opportunity to open Belvedere for people living nearby.

The chief executive of Westmeath County Council Pat Gallagher said that the decision was taken on the basis that most people who visit Belvedere travel more than 5km to get there.

Mr Gallagher added that the executive felt that as part of the “wider messaging” Belvedere should be closed.

He also told Cllr Wallace they she could raise the issue again at this afternoon's meeting of the Mullingar Kinnegad Municipal District.