Council struggles to cope with bylaw submissions after Tribune story

February 27th, 12:49pm February 27th, 12:49pm

Stephen Corrigan

CITY TRIBUNE

Galway City Council staff are struggling to cope with the volume of submissions received on proposed park bylaws – this despite an earlier suggestion that this process would have been completed by now.

A meeting of the Environment, Recreation and Amenity Strategic Policy Committee was told that City Hall has yet to reach the end of the 371 formal submission received in relation to the controversial regulations.

Director of Services, Tom Connell, said that while work was being carried out to get through the huge amount of correspondence, a report to be brought before the Council is yet to be completed.

“There has been over 370 submissions and they are being assessed and categorised at present.

“We would like to come back with a report of those to the main meeting with the proposed amendments,” said Mr Connell.

Proposed bylaws have caused public outcry with the City Council bringing forward a draft regulations that would see the banning of activities like picking flowers, climbing trees and rollerblading on the prom as well as playing ball on the beach.

The proposals  were included in the ‘Draft Parks, Open Spaces and Beaches Bylaws’ and have been a source of public outcry since they were revealed by the Galway City Tribune in September last.

Mr Connell explained to members that there was no obligation on them to introduce these bylaws but that it was the recommendation of the executive that they did.

“We need legislative backing out there for the management of open spaces and parks.

“If you wish to continue without bylaws, you can – but the executive are recommending that they are required,” he said.

The Director of Services said that a public “furore” had arisen as a result of the “media coverage” of the plans – but members of the SPC said that it was important that the “non-watered down” version of the bylaws were given to the public.

Cllr Donal Lyons said that the engagement of the public was an important part of the process of developing these laws.

“I fully support the introduction of bylaws and the fact that they weren’t watered down was good because of the number of people it exercised,” said Cllr Lyons.

Cllr Pádraig Conneely said that regulation was necessary for the protection of the city’s parks and open areas.

“We do need bylaws – we have a lot of parks and beaches in Galway and they are for the enjoyment of everyone.

“They should not be destroyed by a small number of people – anyone who destroys them should be held to account,” said Cllr Conneely.

Meanwhile, Cllr Colette Connolly said that the introduction of bylaws was all well and good provided that there would be someone to enforce them.

Members of the environmental sector on the SPC, including community activist, Brendan Smith, criticised some of the laws as being out of touch with international practice.

“There has to be bylaws but they should be practical bylaws. We shouldn’t be banning children from climbing trees at a time when we are trying to reconnect them with nature,” said Mr Smith.

Mr Connell confirmed that it was hoped the sorting of submissions would be completed and a report compiled before the next meeting of the SPC in May.