Canals branded a disgrace

Date Published: 06-Nov-2009

A CITY councillor claims that pedestrians crossing over one of the city’s bridges are being subjected to one of the “worst displays of neglect” of any waterway around the country.

Billy Cameron (Lab), who was recently elected to the Board of Corrib Navigation Trustees, has called for a major clean up of the Eglinton Canal at Beggars Bridge, saying that no policy in relation to the general upkeep and cleaning of the city’s canal system has ever been implemented.

“While many positive developments have taken place over the last number of years and are even taking place presently in relation to the overall aesthetics of the canal system, it occurs to me that no concrete policy has ever been devised in relation to the general upkeep and cleaning of the canal system despite false promises being given at various times.

“If an inspector from Irish Business Against Litter(IBAL) were to visit the general area of Beggars Bridge and saw what the pedestrians of the city are viewing on a daily basis, Galway would plummet from being one of the tidiest cities in the country and top of the league to a relegation position.

“Pedestrians are treated to one of the worst displays of neglect I have ever witnessed on any waterway in the country. There at least ten traffic cones, five large plastic gates used in the construction industry for cordoning off areas, one large steel gate, one large green bin, one buoy, and one large office desk directly under the bridge,” said Cllr Cameron.

He concedes that a major efforts was made to clean-up the city’s waterways in advance of the Volvo Ocean Race stopover in the city back in May, but he said such an effort should be more common, rather than merely for ‘special’ events.

“The only major effort to address the problem took place prior to the Volvo Ocean Race when the Office of Public Works carried out a clean-up. The only solution that I can see is that all agencies – OPW, Corrib Navigation Trustees, Galway City Council contribute to a central budget specifically dedicated and ring fenced for the cleaning of the canal system.

Otherwise the years of neglect which have brought us to this juncture will continue unabated,” he said.

He recalled a time “in the 70s when one would often see a Mr Cloherty patrol the waterways and keep them in fine fettle with a machine that cut the reeds and kept the system free of industrial debris and general litter”.

He said that despite getting repeated promises from City Hall regarding a scheduled maintenance of cleaning nothing has ever materialised.

“I would love to see Galway Kayak Club or NUIG Kayak Club or a combined effort of both clubs engage in a general clean up. NUIG did so some years ago and I had the pleasure of nominating them for a Mayors Award that same year,” he said.