Old wounds to re-open in Knocknacarra

Date Published: 16-Jan-2009

THE latest twist in the long running saga over the provision of a community centre in Knocknacarra is expected to re-open ‘old-wounds’ and has already been criticised and received with scepticism by local representatives and residents.

A new land swap plan which would see Galway City Council rezoning land and handing over of football pitches for a housing development was proposed at the Council meeting this week.

The Moritz group – the developers of the new Dunnes Stores and B&Q off the Western Distributor Road – asked city councillors to give them the former Salthill Devon pitches at Millar’s Lane that are currently in Council ownership.

The group also asked that the Millar’s Lane pitches be re-zoned to residential use so it can build an unspecified amount of homes alongside the existing Gort Na Bró and Gort Na Gréine housing estates.

In exchange they have offered a larger 7.53 acres plot of land next to Hibernian Insurance, a corner site by the junction of Rahoon Road and Bothar Uí hEithir where they propose to build the long-awaited sports, leisure and community centre as a public private partnership.

The land would also accommodate football pitches beside the community centre – the deal, if accepted, means the Council would get an additional two acres of Recreational and Amenity zoned land.

As part of the deal, the developers have…