Belvedere has lost €4m since 2010 - Mullingar Chamber
Loss making Belvedere House and Gardens has cost the taxpayer an estimated €4m since 2010, according to a recent submission by Mullingar Chamber of Commerce to the draft Tourism Strategy (2023-2027) currently being finalised by the Westmeath County Council.
In the submission, the chamber’s spokesperson on Economic Development, Enterprise and Tourism, John Geoghegan, said that the “constant ongoing losses” at Belvedere House and Gardens are “a representation of an asset that is simply not performing under present operational structures and management”.
“…We estimate that losses at Belvedere since 2010 [based on the figures in the council’s annual adopted budgets] exceed €4m at this juncture.” The submission continued: “This situation would simply not be sustainable in the private sector… this causes us concern in terms of an appropriate use of public funds.”
The chamber also said that the council should reconsider Belvedere House and Garden’s long association with Life Festival, one of the biggest dance music events in the country.
The festival “is an inappropriate use of this amenity. This festival, in particular, causes considerable anti-social upset to the town and environs”.
The chamber added that it feels that there is “almost a total absence of amenities provided at Belvedere and, as such, it has massive potential, given its location and quality of infrastructure supporting it”.
It suggested that the council should look at improving the food and beverage offering, lakeside activities, a large playground, a zipwire and cultural and musical events on a more frequent basis.
The chamber added that in order to “act in the best interests of tourism and hospitality in Westmeath, a strategic review of Belvedere is absolutely essential at this juncture”.
“We are calling for Westmeath County Council to plan for a strategic review of Belvedere in 2023 and 2024 at the very latest as part of this strategy to identify the best possible use of this asset going forward, as a public amenity,” the chamber said.
Council's Response
Council comment
When contacted by the Westmeath Examiner, Westmeath County Council issued this response:
Belvedere House is recognised as a very important example of cultural built heritage and is an established tourism attraction of regional, national, and international importance, with 131,603 visitors recorded during 2022.
The house and grounds are open daily, practically all year round, and visitors can enjoy up to 10km of safe and serene woodland and lakeshore walks, become immersed in the unique history of the restored Georgian Villa, walk in the beautifully maintained Victorian Walled Garden, enjoy play areas and avail of several picnic areas and café.
A full and varied calendar of events and activities at Belvedere is promoted and publicised.
Restoration works to the roof of Belvedere House in 2023 will represent a significant investment by Westmeath County Council, which is also supported financially by the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage.
Completion of this capital project will see the return of Belvedere House to a three-floor period house visitor attraction. In tandem, a Conservation Management Plan has been commissioned and will be finalised in 2023, which will provide a framework for the conservation and development of Belvedere Estate into the future.
Westmeath County Council is committed to further enhancing the visitor experience and increasing visiting numbers at Belvedere, while continuing to maintain the estate to the highest standards, and is keen to work with all stakeholders in achieving this objective and in the context of Westmeath County Council’s forthcoming Tourism Strategy 2023-2027.