Council invites public to air views on city design

Member of the public are being invited to reveal their vision for Galway city centre streets and public spaces.

Galway City Council has invited people to air their views on its new public realm strategy.

The local authority commissioned a strategy, which was prepared by Allies and Morrison Urban Practitioners, Dermot Foley Landscape Architects and TOBIN Engineering. It provides a vision of place, design guidance and outline project proposals to improve Galway’s streets and public spaces.

“The overriding aim is that this strategy contributes to making the whole of Galway as good as its best parts, not just to improve the look and feel of the public realm but mainly to support liveability and through that the life and prosperity of the city,” a Council spokesperson said.

The strategy looks to further the steps which have already been taken, such as investment in the pedestrianised zone, Fishmarket, Eyre Square and the opening of the riverside walk. The preparation of the Strategy is a policy of the Galway City Development Plan 2017-2023.

A ‘pop up’ consultation has been organised to hear views on the vision for Galway’s city centre streets and public spaces at Shop Street next Friday, September 6, from 3pm-6pm and Saturday, September 7, from 11am-4pm. This event follows on from a ‘pop-up’ consultation at the Christmas market, and a walking audit and workshop which took place last February. The Draft Galway Public Realm Strategy and associated environmental assessments are available at the City Hall and on www.galwaycity.ie.

Views on future implementation of the strategy can be made at the ‘pop up’ consultation event and at any time up to the September 30 to the Senior Planner, Planning Department, City Hall, College Road, Galway or by e-mail to publicrealm@galwaycity.ie