New café made from shipping containers at Golden Island, Athlone

Tiane Ltd has applied to build a single‑storey café at Golden Island in Athlone using two connected shipping containers. The proposal would provide coffee and food, customer seating, toilets, parking, bin storage and landscaping around the site. A controlled takeaway collection point is also planned for customers. Westmeath County Council received the application on 5 May 2026 and was due to decide by 29 June 2026. On that date the council issued a refusal notice, citing planning considerations in its decision code REFUSED. The café would have been situated at the Diskin Centre on Golden Island, an area of Athlone in County Westmeath.

The decision comes amid growing attention to parking and traffic management in Athlone. At this week’s Athlone‑Moate Municipal District meeting, council officials revealed that 2 392 parking fines were issued in the town last year – a rise from 1 823 in 2024. The fines generated just over €81 000 for the county in 2025, although more than €10 000 was spent on court proceedings to recover unpaid penalties. In the first half of 2026, Athlone has already seen 1 260 parking fines issued, bringing in over €40 000.

The council’s refusal of Tiane Ltd’s café application reflects its ongoing review of development proposals that may impact local traffic and public space use. Residents and businesses on Golden Island will now need to consider alternative plans for the site. The decision is part of a broader effort by Westmeath County Council to balance commercial development with community needs.

For more details see Westmeath County Council planning file 2660227 and the Shannonside report on parking fines.

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