Row over plan to free Galway’s congested streets

A controversial transport plan aimed at freeing up Galway City’s congested streets is facing massive opposition.

The plan involves a choice of six routes proposed by consultants Arup to bypass Galway City centre, but they require the demolition of up to 130 homes and business premises and have the potential to seriously impact on the Galway racecourse for at least two years.

The bypass has been under discussion for the last decade and an original route, submitted to An Bord Pleanála in 2006 was fought all the way to the European Court where it was shot down because it impacted on a Special Area of Conservation.

At a formal presentation to Galway County Council yesterday, Arup project manager Eileen McCarthy outlined the likely impact on homes and acknowledged the concerns of homeowners and local communities.

“The racecourse impact is a key constraint as well. You have to balance all the alternatives,” Ms McCarthy said.

Fine Gael councillor Peter Feeney described it as one of the most important recommendations that the council would ever make.

“To threaten anyone’s home, the project would have to be critical and the public interest has to be overwhelming,” said Mr Feeney.

“I think it is critical and the public interest overwhelming.

“It took me 40 minutes to drive less than a mile through Galway recently. People are spending hours in their cars and children are spending hours in creches because their parents can’t get to them. These people need a break.”

However, Sinn Féin councillor Tomás Ó Curraoin described the project as “pie in the sky”.

He hit out at the confirmation neither Galway city nor county councillors will decide on whatever route will be chosen. “It galls me that we’re being treated like kids,” he said.

The decision will be made at executive level by officials in both councils following an extended period of consultation.