Breaking News
An Taisce raises concerns over proposed €100m docks development
Galway Bay fm newsroom – The proposed 100 million euro development at Galway docks has been described as unsustainable, piecemeal and ad-hoc.
An Taisce is making its formal submission at day two of the oral hearing which is taking place at the Clayton Hotel.
The hearing is being conducted after a number of appeals were lodged with An Bord Pleanála following the city council’s decision to approve the project.
At the opening of the hearing earlier this week, the applicant described the development as ‘akin to Dublin’s IFSC’.
Representatives for Bonham Docks Ltd have argued the project would result in the regeneration of a derelict, brownfield site which hasn’t been used in years.
The An Taisce submission has described the project as an unsustainable, piecemeal, ad-hoc urban development.
It argues it needs a statutory master plan in order to be plan-led and not developer-led.
The group also raised serious concerns over what it described as a lack of residential content arguing it fails to acknowledge the city’s housing shortage stating the scheme as designed will only serve itself.
The submission also highlights concerns regarding the scale, height, design and layout of the scheme which it described as an ‘inward focused office campus’.
The report states the 7 to 8 storey complex will cause significant visual change over a limited area.
In making this argument, the submission states the tallest building in this inner city area is proposed without the necessary consultation.
The group also raised concerns regarding the project’s engagement with the waterfront adding that views to the docks will be poor and overshadowed by nearby office blocks.
It also claimed the public realm areas are inadequate with no inter-linkage with other public realm areas such as the Spanish Arch.
On day one of the hearing, representatives for the developer Bonham Dock Ltd. outlined details of the plans and how they feel it will benefit the city.
The firm highlighted its separate application for a major student accommodation development.
The developer told An Bord Pleanala Inspector Brid Maxwell that the 30% requirement for residential accommodation is fulfilled when the two applications are viewed as part of an overall framework for the Bonham Quay site.
Bonham Dock Ltd says this would ease Galway’s housing crisis by freeing up rental accommodation across the city.
The hearing continues at the Clayton Hotel.
The death has occurred of the former Bishop of Galway, Kilmacduagh and Kilfenora Martin Drennan, six years after he announced his retirement on health grounds. He was aged 78.
The Galway Diocesan Office confirmed the death this (Saturday) afternoon of the Bishop and Apostolic Administrator Emeritus, who oversaw the Diocese for eleven years.
Born on January 2, 1944 in Piltown, County Kilkenny, he studied for the priesthood at Saint Patrick’s College, Maynooth, from where he was ordained to the priesthood in 1968. His brother Michael is also a priest.
Following his ordination, he continued his studies in Rome where he was awarded a Licentiate in both sacred theology and sacred scripture. He returned to Rome in 1980 to become spiritual director at the Pontifical Irish College for the next five years.
He became a lecturer in sacred scripture at Saint Patrick’s College, Maynooth, where he continued to teach until his appointment as Auxiliary Bishop of Dublin in 1997 with responsibility for East Wicklow and South Dublin.
Following the retirement of Bishop James McLoughlin, Bishop Drennan was appointed Bishop of Galway and Kilmacduagh and Apostolic Administrator of Kilfenora and he was installed on July 3, 2005 in Galway Cathedral.
Outgoing Cllr Terry O’Flaherty (Ind) is on course to retain her City Council seat – and top the poll in City East.
With 33% of the boxes tallied, Cllr O’Flaherty is polling strongly, particularly in Renmore.
Michael John Crowe is ahead of his running mate Alan Cheevers for the Fianna Fáil vote, according to the early figures, although that could change when Doughiska and Roscam boxes are opened.
The Green Party’s Claire Hillery is on about 7%, with Fine Gael on 10% and Sinn Fein on 5%.
The opening of boxes for the local elections began at 9am this morning in Leisureland when the tallymen (and women) kicked into gear.
As regards the Galway County Council elections, the smaller areas are being opened first which means that the four-seater Connemara North boxes will be first in the pecking order.
It will be followed by Gort-Kinvara (5 seats), Connemara South (5 seats), Athenry-Oranmore (7 seats), Ballinasloe (6 seats), Loughrea (5 seats) and finally Tuam (7 seats).
The boxes in these areas will be opened and tallied in that particular order before being transferred to the Galway Lawn Tennis Club on Threadneedle Road where the counting will commence around mid-morning.
That is when the fun will really begin – although the tallies should give a good indication as to where most of the seats are destined.
As regards the city, the Galway City East boxes were opened first, followed by Galway City Central and finally Galway City West. These votes will be transferred to the Westside Centre by around 11am for counting.
There are 39 seats on Galway County Council to be filled with 18 on Galway City Council. The City Council count is expected to conclude on Saturday night but the County Council count – with seven electoral areas to be filled – could well go into Monday.
Families queue up for school’s offer of free house
West has lower cancer survival rates than rest
Galway minors continue to lay waste to all opponents
Gardaí and IFA issue a joint appeal on summer road safety
Marathon Man plans to call a halt – but not before he hits 160 races
