Councillors seek new legal view on blocking asylum seeker plan

Athlone-area councillors said this week that they will be looking for independent legal advice as part of a continuing effort to stop the controversial development of temporary accommodation for 1,000 male asylum seekers in the town.

This comes after they were told on Monday by Westmeath County Council's legal advisors that taking out an injunction, in an effort to stop the site works in Lissywollen, would not succeed.

Meanwhile, a parent at Cornamaddy Community National School this week circulated a petition containing more than 120 signatures of fellow parents at the school who say they have concerns about the project.

The petition was circulated with a message indicating that some parents in Cornamaddy would not be sending their children to school this Friday, November 15, unless the decision to go ahead with the project is reversed.

At the end of October, councillors from the Athlone Moate Municipal District took the unprecedented step of issuing an Order under Section 31 of the Local Government (Sanitary Services) Act 1948, to prohibit "the erection or retention of temporary dwellings" on the lands at Lissywollen.

However, the statutory period for when this order could potentially take effect is 30 days, and in the meantime construction work to develop the accommodation has been continuing.

A joint statement issued on Monday on behalf of the nine elected members of the Athlone Moate Municipal District stated: "We are very much aware that unfortunately the work is still continuing on

site.

"Therefore, as we appreciate the urgency on this issue, we have decided to seek independent legal advice in an effort to stop the development."

The statement said all of the elected members had agreed to continue with a legal process in an attempt to halt the project, and it thanked the local community "for their patience on this matter".

Cllr Kevin 'Boxer' Moran said in a statement on Monday night that "every effort must be made" to reverse the decision to establish this accommodation.

"The people of Athlone have legitimate concerns as to how this entire matter is being handled, and those concerns have to be addressed," said 'Boxer'.

"There is a lot of anger out there, and it is understandable. The outgoing Government's immigration policy has been a shambles and has led to this unacceptable situation that is developing here in Athlone."