Architects in the Office of Public Works are examining a building at the harbour in Athlone which local councillors have dubbed a "disgrace" to their town. The offending structure belongs to the OPW and is being used as a storage space for its equipment near the lock gates on the Shannon, one of the waterway's best-known landmarks.
The building, which has been dubbed "a dirty ould shed" by the chairman of the local Urban District Council, Mr Ciaran Molloy, is the only property adjoining the river owned by the OPW.
The Office of Public Works has been coming under increasing at tack from tourism and other interests in the town in recent months, and moves to have the building removed began earlier this year.
The waterfront area in Athlone has undergone remarkable changes over the last two years with the upgrading of many buildings, especially on the Connacht side of the river.
These have been encouraged by urban renewal schemes and restaurants, shops; high-quality residential and holiday-home flats have been built.
Earlier this year, the local Chamber of Commerce wrote to the OPW to ask it to do something about the state of the building. The OPW told the chamber that the building was being used to store equipment, mainly buoys for use on Lough Ree. It said it was the only property it owned with river frontage and it had asked its architects to look at the structure with a view to upgrading it.
However, the local council, which is fiercely proud of the new-look Athlone, is furious at the lack of action by the OPW as plans are being put in place for a new tourist season.
"It's strange that the only people letting down the town are the people in the OPW. This is an eyesore and the sooner it's out of there the better," said Mr Molloy. "It's very disappointing that when the people of the town make a big effort to tidy up their own properties, a State agency should be doing nothing to help at all."
He said the location of the shed, under the walls of historic Athlone Castle, created a poor impression of the town, which relies heavily on the river trade for business. "We want it removed. We want it out of there and the sooner it's gone the better," he said.