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Planned bus route through city woods causes controversy
Galway Bay fm Newsroom – A plan to run a bus route through Merlin Woods in the city is causing controversy.
The plan has been included in the past two City Development Plans, however when it was raised at a meeting of the City Council last evening, a heated debate ensued.
Director of Services, Ciarán Hayes, presented a report to the Council and recommended that the matter be referred back to the Planning and Transportation and Infrastructure committees for review.
However, several councillors voiced concern about the proposal for the bus corridor, with Councillor Frank Fahey describing it as a “disaster”.
Councillor Catherine Connolly said no-one made any representations to the Council about the bus route through the woods when she was Mayor of Galway.
However she said she takes “an equal share of the guilt along with the officials” that it was included in the City Development Plan.
Councillor Hildegarde Naughton suggested that an alternative route for the bus corridor be explored.
New City Manager Brendan McGrath, who had listened intently for most of the meeting without speaking, offered his advice on the issue.
He said he was not sure that passing a motion against the bus route, which is already in the Development Plan, would be in compliance with the law.
Councillor Colette Connolly proposed that the matter be left on the agenda for a Council meeting and that officials come back to the Council with a full report within 6 months.