New homes plan a ‘fatal accident waiting to happen’

A local residents’ association has objected to plans for the construction of nearly 40 new homes in Claregalway, warning that additional traffic in the area would be a “fatal accident waiting to happen”.

Residents in the adjoining Riveroaks estate also argue that no insurance company offers flood insurance for their homes.

Developer Walter King has sought permission to develop the 3.8-acre site at Summerfield for 39 houses and 78 parking spaces.

The plans involve 22 three-bed semis, 6 two-bed end of terrace, 6 two-bed mid-terrace, 3 three-bed terraced and 2 four-bed semis, accessed from the Riveroaks estate.

Because the lands are in a Gaeltacht area, 20% of the development (eight dwellings) must be reserved for Irish speakers for a 15-year period.

“The proposed development will provide additional residential units within Claregalway which will augment and support the existing population centre. The provision of an additional 39 units will not have an adverse impact on the linguistic integrity of the area due to the population levels and the numbers of Irish speakers in the vicinity.

“Furthermore, in compliance with the Gaeltacht Local Area Plan, eight residential units will be reserved for Irish-speaking members of the community for a 15-year period. The reservation of eight houses for Irish speakers will help strengthen the language in the village and this is in addition to any further Irish speakers that may occupy the 31 remaining proposed houses,” the application reads.

Four houses will be transferred to the County Council to meet social housing requirements.

The Riveroaks Residents’ Association has made a submission the Council outlining the reasons it is not in favour of the development, including Health and Safety issues.

“Riveroaks is a very large estate with a single access point to the main N17 road which is also shared with a shopping centre and the Claregalway Hotel and is already extremely dangerous with one resident recently suffering a near-fatal accident.

“Traffic volumes through the village are still dangerously high and this is compounded by the fact that the entrance to Riveroaks frequently flooded due to hopelessly inadequate storm drainage systems in the village.

“The junction is potentially lethal as due to the curvature of the road, visibility is extremely limited on both sides and we feel it would be grossly irresponsible to allow heavy construction traffic in particular to access a large site like this through this route.

“We also have strong concerns about the health and safety of residents and young children in particular – the route from the estate entrance through to this proposed development is approximately 500 metres long and passed by many open entrances – the additional traffic through this route is a fatal accident waiting to happen,” the objection reads.

Residents also point out the development borders a documented flood plan, and while an engineering report with the application found the development and access road would be in a low-risk zone, “the reality is that no insurance company currently offers flood cover for any property in Riveroaks estate”.

They also took issue with GK Developments, the company which built Riveroaks – headed by Walter King – over unfinished work and delays in the estate including road surfacing, footpaths and drainage.

Concerns were also expressed that there would be nearly 200 houses and apartments, with no plans for recreational facilities and while children are already playing in close proximity to the road.

The Council is due to make a decision on the application in the middle of September.