Ballinasloe householders oppose proposed social housing development

A proposal to provide ten social houses in an estate in Ballinasloe has caused consternation – with residents demanding that public representatives work to halt the development.

But the final decision will be made by the whole 39 members of Galway County Council who will be presented with the proposal at next month’s meeting.

The residents don’t want ten social houses in the estate and they have outlined a number of reasons for this including water flow and drainage issues. They also argue that it will exceed the amount of social housing permissible.

Garbally Drive Residents’ Association have lodged an objection with Galway County Council supported by signed petition and photographs on behalf of the residents of the estate.

They say the objection was lodged following a residents’ meeting at which serious issues and concerns were raised by residents to the proposed development.

The issue was raised by Cllr Michael Finnerty at a meeting of Ballinasloe Municipal Council when he was told that the proposed development was out of keeping with the other houses in the estate.

It has been explained that there around 50 houses in Garbally Drive, which is located to the rear of Portiuncula Hospital, are already provided and the residents do not want ten more social houses.

Cllr Finnerty has suggested that if the development does go ahead, then it should involve the construction of one and two bedroom retirement homes. He said that this would free up larger residences for younger families.

The Garbally Drive Residents Association acknowledge there that there is a serious housing shortage.

However, they say that there are a number of vacant dwellings in Ballinasloe and surrounding areas that could be utilised to address this problem.

They say that the Council has erected twenty affordable houses in the estate and they describe this as a major success – but that is a mix of both younger and senior residents.

Cllr Finnerty believed that it should be the councillors in the Ballinasloe Municipal Council area who should have the final decision on this development. “A councillor from Clifden should not have any input in what happens in Ballinasloe,” he argued.

Read the full story in this week’s Connacht Tribune.