Campaigners’ delight at reversal of Bearna foreshore planning decision

Campaigners in Bearna have expressed their delight at the decision to overturn a controversial ruling earlier this year that would have allowed new building to take place within 15 metres of the foreshore – that now reverts back to 30 metres.

Over the past three months the Save Our Seashore (SOS) group had been engaged in a high-profile campaign resisting the move to move the setback distance from 30 to 15 metres of the foreshore – leading to fears of flooding on these properties.

SOS spokesperson Ian Foley said that they were delighted that the previous decision was overturned by councillors, who he believed appreciated the issues affecting Bearna a lack of amenities, environmental concerns and issues relating to the sewage station.

“We would like to particularly thank the people of Bearna for their overwhelming support and for engaging in a courteous and informed manner with the county councillors,” he said.

“It is important that all parties engage going forward towards the ultimate goal of providing much needed amenities for the residents of Barna and visitors to the area.”

It resulted in them submitting a petition with 1,700 signatures to Galway County Council outlining their opposition to the plan.

And it has resulted in Galway County Councillors doing a U-turn on the decision they made back in January as part of their discussions on the County Development Plan 2022 to 2028. This will allow for the development of a coastal amenity park in Bearna along with a promenade and cycleway.

At the time, members voted by 19-9 for the 15-metre setback despite a recommendation by Council officials that it remain at 30 metres.

But during their latest discussions on the County Development Plan, they rowed back on this decision although Cllr Noel Thomas (FF) from Moycullen and Bearna’s Cllr Tomas O Curraoin (Ind) remained firm in their view that a 15 metres setback would be acceptable.

Cllr Thomas was of the view that it was “a completely green-led” campaign had resulted in his colleagues on the Council having a change of mind over the past few months.

“A 15 metres setback from the foreshore is more than ample to allow for the provision a walkway or cycleway on the front. It is also safe from a development point of view,” he argued.

Cllr O Curraoin, who initially proposed the 15 metres setback, said that he had no regrets and was still of the view that it was not alone safe to do so but it would benefit Bearna in the long term.

But he added that the landowners along the front would have to be properly compensated by Galway County Council in the event of a coastal amenity park being provided. “And I am not talking about pennies here,” he warned.

The accusation of it being a green-led campaign was refuted by Cllr Alastair McKinstry (GP) who said that it was simply impractical for such a situation to be allowed.

The Connemara area councillor said that the land 15 metres back from the shoreline could not be developed and this was despite his concerns regarding global warming and rising tides in the future.

“I am all for it being used as a coastal park and I fully support that the landowners should be adequately compensated for this,” said Cllr McKinstry.

Cllr Tom Welby (Ind), who had originally resisted the 15-metre setback, said that the village had always been working on the basis of a 30-metre setback when it came to future development.

“I am delighted that there has been a change of view and this is a good day for Bearna and a good day for Connemara. This is a case of people power winning out in the end,” he added.

The meeting heard from several councillors about having received ‘a deluge’ of emails from members of the campaign group. Some councillors said they responded to each and every one of them while others said they replied to as many as they could.

However, Cllr Jimmy McClearn (FG) remarked that he did not welcome the fact that he was “bombarded” by emails from the campaign group.

“I didn’t respond to any of them,” the Killimor-based councillor said. “I voted against the 15-metre setback but in any event none of these emails would influence my decision in the slightest.”

“If this is the way to get a point across, then I don’t know where we are going,” said Cllr McClearn.

(Photo: Members of the Save Our Shoreline (SOS) group in Bearna celebrate a successful outcome by resisting the 15 metres development line setback in the village. From left: Ian Foley, Treasa Ni Cheannabhain, Des Fitzgerald, Catherine Corcoran and Padhraig Campbell).