Consultation on a New Heritage Plan for Westmeath Continues until 15 September – Have Your Say!

A new Heritage Plan is being prepared for Westmeath. The Plan will set out a framework for the work of Westmeath County Council Heritage Office, in partnership with groups and agencies, to deliver heritage projects within the County.

Following initial public consultation last summer, Westmeath Heritage Forum have prepared a Draft Heritage Plan. The Draft Westmeath Heritage Plan 2024-2030 aims to increase awareness and appreciation of our County’s Heritage and to safeguard it for present and future generations. The Plan has four strategic objectives with a series of actions set out under each objective to guide the implementation of the Plan. Each of the actions has performance indicators, which will be used to monitor the implementation of the plan.

“The Westmeath Heritage Plan 2024-2030 will bethe fourth Heritage Plan for Westmeath. It aims to build on the achievements of the previous county Heritage Plans. A full review of the Actions of the Westmeath Heritage Plan 2018 -2023 is set out in Appendix 2 of the Draft Heritage Plan,” says Heritage Officer Melanie McQuade.

The Draft Heritage Plan is available on the consultation portal: https://consult.westmeathcoco.ie/ on the Westmeath County Council Website and on https://westmeathculture.ie/. Hard copies of the Plan may be viewed in local branches of Westmeath Library. The consultation period on the Draft Westmeath Heritage Plan 2024-2030 will close on 15 September 2023.

The first of a series of consultation sessions on the Draft Westmeath Heritage Plan took place yesterday in Mullingar. Further public consultation sessions are scheduled as follows:

Friday 8 Sept 2:30 – 3:30pm - Kilbeggan Library

Monday 11 Sept 7pm - Zoom Meeting – register at heritage@westmeathcoco.ie for the meeting link

Tuesday 12 Sept 6:30-7:30pm - Athlone Library

Thursday 14 Sept 6:30-7:30pm  - Castlepollard Library

All submissions received during the consultation period will be considered by Westmeath Heritage Forum and the Plan will be amended as appropriate. The Plan will undergo screening for Appropriate Assessment and the final Plan will be brought to the Council for their approval before year end.

Councillor Louise Heavin the Chair of the Heritage Forum said: “I encourage everyone with an interest or involvement in the heritage of our County to help shape the Heritage Plan by reviewing the Draft Westmeath Heritage Plan 2024-2030 and submitting their comments.”

Submissions and queries may also be sent by email: heritage@westmeathcoco.ie and by post to the Heritage Office, Westmeath County Council, Áras an Chontae, Mullingar, Co. Westmeath.

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Content Last Updated/Reviewed: 06/09/2023