Belvedere playground 'needs an upgrade', says Glynn

While €200,000 is to be spent at Belvedere House, something needs to be done to upgrade the benches and playground there, according to Cllr Ken Glynn.

At the May meeting of the Mullingar Kinnegad Municipal District, he said it was important that the council look after its facilities in the interest of season ticket holders and visitors. David Jones, director of services, agreed to talk with the manager of Belvedere, Stephen Masterson, about improvements and to report back to the members.

The €200,000 was secured through the Historic Structures Fund (Dept of Housing, Local Government and Heritage) for conversation work on the roof of Belvedere House, in the context of an overall Conservation Management Plan.

It is intended that the works will start this year, after the recent appointment by Westmeath County Council of a conservation architect-led multidisciplinary team to advance the project.

Other works include renovation of the boatshed, gardens and flowerbeds and provision of additional picnic and park benches.

Some 800 native Irish tree saplings are being planted in the woodlands and funding has been secured for the development of a new website (Fáilte Ireland), and invasive species management (Local Biodiversity Action Fund).