Council overwhelmed by 400 submissions on parks bylaws

Galway City Council has been overwhelmed by the public outcry over proposed new bylaws – which include a ban on climbing trees, picking flowers and playing football in parks.

Nearly 400 submissions were received by the local authority on the bylaws – the vast majority of which are negative reactions – leaving staff ‘snowed under’ with work.

The proposals included in the ‘Draft Parks, Open Spaces and Beaches Bylaws’ have become hugely contentious since they were first revealed by the Galway City Tribune last September.

A total of 371 formal submissions were made to the Council on the proposals, while an online petition recorded around 3,200 signatures.

Speaking at a meeting of the Environment, Recreation and Amenity Strategic Policy Committee, Senior Executive Parks Superintendant Stephen Walsh revealed that the volume had been so great, staff at City Hall have been struggling to get through them.

“It’s a huge body of work but we hope to have that back before the February meeting,” said Mr Walsh. “It is difficult to find the space and resources.”

For the rest of this story, see this week’s Galway City Tribune.
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