Barna homes can be closer to sea

Members of Galway County Council have voted to allow development to take place in Barna village just 15 metres from the foreshore – as opposed to 30 metres as recommended by senior officials.

Fears were expressed that any developments that take place within 15 metres of the shoreline could be hit by flooding in the event of a storm or prolonged rainfall.

But a local councillor told a meeting of Galway County Council that he never witnessed flooding in Barna in his lifetime.

The nearest threat, according to Cllr Tomas O Curraoin, came from a prolonged storm in 2014 – but this resulted in just one boat being detached from its mooring.

He made his remarks while councillors were discussing the County Development Plan which proposed that there be a 30-metre setback from the foreshore to allow for the development of a coastal amenity park as well as the proposed Oranmore to Barna cycleway. But the independent councillor was not for moving and he proposed that a new setback of 15 metres for development from the sea be applied for Barna.

“There has never been a recording of flooding on these lands and there is no evidence that properties are at risk.

His proposal was seconded by Cllr Noel Thomas (FF) before the motion went to a vote which was carried with 19 councillors in support of the 15-metre setback, eight opposed with eight abstentions.

The only Connemara councillor to vote against the motion was Cllr Alastair McKinstry (Green) who wanted a 50 metre setback but he did not get a seconder for his proposal.

Senior planner Valerie Loughnane told the meeting that the reason for the 30-metre setback was to prevent the threat of flooding and so that the coastal amenity park could be catered for.

She urged councillors not to accept the 15-metre proposal and warned that when it came to planning applications, a flood risk assessment would be invariably sought by planners who would have to make their decisions based on the findings of this.

“There is no evidence to suggest that it could not be flooded at some point being so close to the sea,” Ms Loughnane added.

But it was pointed out by Cllr Daithi O Cualain (FF) that the coast road is a mere seven metres back from the shoreline and doesn’t flood.

He said that by having a 15-metre restriction seemed acceptable as far as he was concerned and added that he would be supporting the motion.

However, Cllr Jimmy McClearn (FG) said that he had enough experience of flooding and flood plains where he came from in South Galway.

He said that the concept of a 15-metre setback from the sea was not acceptable in his books and would be voting against the motion.

Cllr Thomas argued back that if proper structures were put in place along the coast, then there should be no threat of flooding – similar to Salthill, he added.