Planning permission has been refused for a planned 156-home development on lands off the Ballymoneen Road in Knocknacarra.

City planners have ruled that the location of the new estate, next to the planned route for the Galway City Ring Road, meant that it could hold up the building of the major road project should it get the go-ahead.

Cairn Homes Properties Limited had applied to Galway City Council for permission to build the Large Scale Residential Development of 113 houses and 43 apartments

But in rejecting the plans, Galway City Council pointed out that the proposed development directly abuts the proposed N6 Galway City Ring Road (GCRR) project route, and it was a core strategy of the city’s Development Plan “to protect and deliver this piece of strategic infrastructure for Galway City”.

“In this case, the installation of any permanent works within the proposed development site would have the potential of being damaged by blasting, including but not limited to structures, drainage and services and would therefore, delay and impinge upon the delivery and construction of the N6 GCRR,” it said in its ruling.

It added: “Therefore, development on these lands would be premature pending the determination of the road layout and its construction and would be contrary to the development plan policies and contrary to the proper planning and sustainable development.”

During the consultation process for the planning application, Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) expressed concern last October that insufficient information had been provided to demonstrate that the proposed development would not impact delivery of the GCRR.

TII maintained its stance in a December 30 response to further information provided by Cairn Homes Properties Ltd.in relation to retaining walls on the boundary of the development and other matters.

And in a letter to city planners last month, Sean Devaney, N6 Project Manager with Galway County Council, said that the GCCR construction would involve cutting into rock for a distance of 300 metres from the Ballymoneen Road heading west.

“The proposed development includes housing located at 15m from the edge of the proposed rock cutting with varying finished floor levels.

“Depending on the sequence of construction of both or either project there is a potential for interaction and conflict.

“Therefore, the installation of any permanent works with the potential of being damaged by blasting, including but not limited to structures, drainage and services among other things, should not begin until the applicant gets written confirmation from the National Roads Project Office of Galway County Council that blasting adjacent to the proposed development for the Galway City Ring Road has concluded,” Mr Devaney’s letter added.

A number of objections to the proposed housing development had also been lodged by residents of neighbouring estates, some citing the dangers from increased traffic on the narrow Upper Ballymoneen Road.

The plans had involved the proposed construction of 113 houses, of which 16 would be two-bedroom, 91 three-bed and six four-bed houses. Also planned were 43 apartments, 21 of them single bedroom units and 22 two-bed, along with a creche.

The scheme would have involved the demolition of two existing dwellings on the site, a two-storey house and a bungalow, as well as a shed.

Pictured: The 156-home development was planned for a site (outlined in red) running alongside the Slí Gheal and Fána Buí estates on Ballymomeen Road.

The public are being given the chance to honour their local heroes — the individual volunteers or groups who give freely of their time to help make Galway a better place to live.

Nominations are now open for the Galway City Mayor’s Awards, the winners of which will take centre stage at a presentation ceremony in the city in May.

Galway City Council is inviting nominations for individuals or groups who are involved in voluntary activity taking place in the city in one of the following categories:

■ Arts, Culture, Heritage, and Cúrsaí Gaeilge Award

■ Residents & Local Areas Award

■ Community Service and Social Inclusion Award

■ Senior Citizen Volunteer of the Year Award

■ Environmental Sustainability Award

■ Sports Volunteer of the Year Award

■ Children and Youth Support Award

■ Young Volunteer of the Year Award

■ The Galway City Council Volunteer of the Year Award.

To nominate an individual or group for any of these award categories, people can complete an online nomination form at www.GalwayCity.ie/MayorsAwardsNomination. Nomination forms are also available from City Hall and the City Libraries.

The closing date for online nominations is 4pmon  Friday, February 21.

The Mayor of the City of Galway, Councillor Peter Keane said that it had been another outstanding year of volunteering.

“These awards celebrate the remarkable impact made by individuals, communities, and voluntary groups across Galway City.”

“As Mayor, I encourage everyone to nominate those individuals, communities and voluntary groups who have gone above and beyond in their volunteer work. Volunteers are the heart of our city, and their invaluable contributions leave a lasting effect on the lives of many.

If there is an individual or group that deserves to be recognised for their efforts, please nominate them. On this, the 22nd year of the Awards, I look forward to acknowledging these extraordinary individuals, communities and voluntary groups whose dedication and passion inspire us all.”

Galway City Council said that all volunteers should know that their contribution is very much appreciated and that volunteering is celebrated “for its inherent value to our society, helping to develop vibrant, inclusive and sustainable communities”.

Winners will receive a commemorative gift and a bursary of €500 to use towards their volunteering. All nominees will be presented with an individually designed Mayoral Certificate at the Awards Ceremony which will be held on Thursday, May 1, in the Galway Bay Hotel, Salthill.

■ For further information on the Mayor’s Awards, email MayorsAwards@GalwayCity.ie or call 091-536461/ 091-536358.

Pictured: Mayor of Galway, Cllr Peter Keane (centre) at the announcement of the opening of nominations for the Galway City Mayor’s Awards with (from left) Louise Osborne, Claire Walsh and Liam Kitterick (all Galway City Council), and Donnacha Foley, Genevieve Becker, Liz Wonnacott, Andrii Balytskyi and Billy Tyndall (all Galway Volunteer Centre).

Pranksters who removed place-name signs from a string of areas in Renmore have been told that there is nothing funny about their actions — which could even have consequences in an emergency.

Independent Councillor Terry O’Flaherty hit out at the theft of estate identification signs from nine different areas over the past few weeks Estates targeted included Woodlands Avenue (where two place-name signs were stolen), Lough Atalia Drive, Lakeshore Drive, Renmore Crescent, Dun Na Mara Drive, Beach Drive and Yewlands Green,and Murrough Park.

Councillor O’Flaherty said that she was appalled at the thefts of the signs that had been erected on walls and place-name holders in the estates around Renmore.

“Whoever the culprits are, they should know that their actions are not one bit funny — it’s a disgrace and shame on them.

“Some of the residents who contacted me mentioned that the removal of the signs would impact on taxis, deliveries, visitors to the area. — and even the emergency services.

“The City Council will have to re-erect these signs, which are expensive to replace, and unfortunately there’s no guarantee that they will not be stolen again,” added Councillor O’Flaherty.

Pictured: Stolen: The placeholder for one of the missing placenames in Murrough Park.