Galway Bay FM News Archives
City Centre extension plans are put on ice
Date Published: 28-Apr-2011
BY ENDA CUNNINGHAM
A major plan to rejuvenate the Headford Road and surrounding areas – which includes a new road link with the Dyke Road – has been put on the long finger by the local authority, the Galway City Tribune has learned.
The City Council’s Director of Services for Planning Tom Connell has admitted that delivering the Local Area Plan (LAP) is now “long term” because of the economic downturn and decimation of the Council’s revenues.
Private consultants were hired by the Council in early 2008 to come up with a ‘Framework Plan’ that would provide a vision for the area – including Headford Road, Quincentenary Bridge, Dyke Road, Seán Mulvoy Road, Bóthar na mBan, St Bridget’s Terrace, Galway Retail Park and Galway Shopping Centre – and provide an extension to the city centre.
It was later decided by the local authority to devise a LAP instead of the Framework Plan.
But Tom Connell has now revealed the ‘long-term’ status of the Headford Road LAP as he over-ruled a senior planning official’s recommendation that permission be refused for a new four-storey building beside the Omniplex.
“Having regard to the current economic climate, the delivery of the draft Local Area Plan objectives are long term,” Mr Connell said in a memo to Executive Planner Eilis McCullough.
Michael Barry of Almane Properties – which owns the Galway Retail Park – applied for permission to build a new 2,355 square metre development on the disused site adjacent to the Omniplex, which will include ground floor retail space, first floor offices and 4 two-bed.
Ms McCullough recommended the latest application be rejected on the grounds the area is earmarked for significant change through the LAP.
However, the next day, she was over-ruled by Mr Connell who said the proposed use for the land is in line with the LAP and will be a catalyst for future uses.
“Having regard to the current economic climate, the delivery of the draft LAP objectives are long term, the current proposal gives potential for early delivery of objectives,” he said.
For more on this story, see the Galway City Tribune.
Date Published: 07-May-2013
Tuam has secured it’s second import of hay from the UK this afternoon in a bid to address the ongoing fodder crisis in the west.
A load of between 40 and 50 bales arrived at the Connacht Gold store in Airglooney for distribution throughout the county.
It follows a similar load last Thursday to the Tuam outlet.
The co-op also took a load of imported hay to the mart in Maam Cross over the weekend, however most of the bales had already been pre-assigned to farmers.
Further loads of hay are expected to arrive across the west and north west tonight and tomorrow morning.
Date Published: 09-May-2013
281 offers of social housing were made by the city and county councils last year.
Figures provided by the local authorities show that 46 of these were refused.
Galway city council made 193 such offers in 2012 with 41 of these refused.
The majority didn’t like the area they were offered or disliked the property itself.
Galway county council made 88 offers of social housing last year with 83 of these accepted.
Reasons given for refusing five properties focused on the location or that the property itself did not meet their needs.
Date Published: 13-May-2013
Galway Senator Trevor O’ Clochartaigh has called on the government to provide more support for victims of domestic violence.
Figures provided to the Sinn Fein Senator show that domestic violence support group COPE accompanied over 80 women to court in Galway last year, but a further 214 women were unable to avail of such assistance.
Senator O Clochartaigh told Galway Bay fm news that more needs to be done to support victims of domestic violence.
Farrell says eviction ban lift will be “judged harshest” of Government’s bad housing policies
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Man missing from Loughrea located safe and well
UHG third most overcrowded hospital nationwide during March
Green light for Galway’s first Wetherspoons at Eglinton Street
City seeks to annex Oranmore, Claregalway, Moycullen and Barna in boundary extension
Man awarded €142,000 over unprovoked attack in toilet of County Galway pub
Woman convicted of harassing social media guru
Galway family’s plea – help us save our home
Bono has finally found what’s he’s looking for!
