PLANNING APPEAL COULD PUT GORT WESTERN RAIL STOP OFF IN DANGER

Date Published: 28-Aug-2008

There are fears a Gort stop-off on the Western Rail corridor could be jeopardised by an appeal against a new railway station in the town.

A Belfast owned company, based in Gort, is appealing a decision by county planners to allow Iarnród Eireann develop the old Protected railway station in Gort as part of the reopening of the Limerick to Galway Railway Line.

The planned works include two new 90 metre platforms, an 80 bay car park, pedestrian bridge and access roads.

Coen Holdings Ltd, Station Road, Gort, which is owned by the JP Corry Group in Belfast, is claiming the new car park would interfere with its right of way through Iarnód Eireann property.

The company is a major building materials business in the South Galway area and has used the right of way for over thirty years.

But Western Rail Corridor campaigners fear the delay in a decision on the appeal to An Bord Pleanála could mean Gort could miss out on its rail stop next year.

West-On-Track campaigner Mossy Clabby hopes that doesn’t happen.