The tarmacadam surface on Shop Street is ‘permanent’, city officials have confirmed – despite previous assertions that it was temporary.

At a meeting of Galway City Council on Monday, Director of Services Patrick Greene said the tarmacadam, which has been installed on sections spanning from William Street as far as Cross Street and Mainguard Street, was going nowhere anytime soon.

Rehabilitation works on the city’s main thoroughfare got underway in 2018 following years of complaints about the poor condition of the cobbled surface – and millions’ worth of compo claims as a result of falls.

Since then, the route taking in William Street, Shop Street, Mainguard Street, High Street and Quay Street has had new surfaces laid – and only Quay Street has maintained a cobbled base.

When first mooted, it was stated that the tarmacadam would eventually be replaced with a more aesthetically pleasing surface in the future, and as recently as July 2019, a meeting of the Council heard that a ban on heavy goods vehicles in the pedestrianised areas was being considered for when this new surface was laid.

However, at this week’s meeting, on foot of a question from Cllr Alan Curran (Soc Dem), Mr Greene said the final phase of the resurfacing was due to get underway this autumn, and that the current one was staying put.

“It is not a temporary surface. The refurbishment is what we have done,” he said.

He said an application for Urban Regeneration and Development Funding would be made for the city centre at an unspecified date in the future, “and that is being looked at by our forward planning group”.

“But it is permanent, as of now”, he said.

Meanwhile, Mr Greene confirmed that refurbishment works were due to get underway on the Salmon Weir Bridge this year.

Cllr Eddie Hoare (FG) said councillors had set aside funding in the annual budget for the painting of the white pillars.

“There was half-a-million euro allocated in last year’s budget and we were given assurances that the pillars would be repainted and ancillary works carried out. “Will it be done in 2024?” asked Cllr Hoare.

Mr Greene confirmed that the works were scheduled to take place this year “but we can’t touch it while the nesting season is ongoing”.

The nesting season ended on August 31.

“We are working with the National Parks and Wildlife Service and will have it completed by the end of the year,” said Mr Greene.

Pictured: The street being resurfaced in 2019. That same year, a Council meeting was told that plans were being made to ban heavy goods vehicles once a non-tarmac surface would be laid.