Concerns raised over lack of parking in Aldi proposal

From this week’s Galway City Tribune – German retail giant Aldi has told Galway City Council that 80 parking spaces will be enough to service its proposed new store on the Monivea Road in Ballybrit – despite the City Development Plan requiring them to have 134 spaces.

The company has suggested that its proposed level of parking is adequate because of “high-quality public transport” serving the area.

Aldi Stores Ireland has applied to the local authority to develop a site of just over one acre owned by the McGreal family – once occupied by Comer Machinery – into a supermarket with a gross floor area of 2,109 square metres.

As part of the plans, there are 80 parking spaces – carparking standards with the current Galway City Development Plan require 134 spaces for a development of this size and nature.

A Traffic Impact Assessment included with the application found the new supermarket could be accommodated within the existing road network.

“It is conclusive that the junction arrangements in the vicinity of the application site can operate satisfactorily in accommodating the levels and types of traffic likely to be attracted by the proposed Aldi development in terms of traffic capacity,” the report found.

Independent retailers’ group RGDATA has objected to the plans, expressing concern about the “proliferation of planned and permitted convenience stores in suburban locations throughout Galway City in recent years”.

Concerns were also expressed about the limited amount of car parking spaces and that “it is highly likely that patrons driving to the store will mount the kerb and park illegally on the footpath along the industrial estate road and along the Monivea Road.

Tesco objected on the grounds that a supermarket on the site would be contrary to the land zoning objectives for the area “considering the Ballybrit Industrial Estate is characterised by warehousing, logistics services, industrial premises and retail warehousing”.
This is a shortened preview version of this article. To read the rest of the story, see this week’s Galway City Tribune. You can buy a digital edition HERE.