Properties opposite Galway Airport ‘still boast future jobs potential’

Lands and buildings across from the Galway Airport site in Carnmore have the potential to generate sustainable employment.

This was the view of several Galway County Councillors, who rejected a recommendation by the executive that these properties be redesignated as unzoned lands as opposed to being used for business and enterprise.

During discussions on the Galway County Development Plan, it was suggested by officials that there was no justification in having these three properties zoned for business purposes as they were outside any settlement boundary.

Senior Executive Engineer Valerie Loughnane told the meeting that there was a masterplan for Galway Airport but that the properties located across could become part of this initiative.

The properties include the old Steiner factory in Carnmore which supplied the capacitor industry with raw materials and closed 13 years ago with the loss of almost 50 jobs. The other two properties are an old filling station and wood processing factory. Ms Loughnane said that the airport site was jointly owned by Galway City and Galway County Councils and that these three sites could be tied into the overall future development at this location.

However, a clearly annoyed Cllr Jim Cuddy (Ind) said that these three sites on the opposite side of the road had absolutely nothing got to do with the old airport apart from their location. He pointed out that the old Steiner building was being used for storage and logistics and was giving good employment in the area.

Cllr Liam Carroll (FG) was opposed to these properties reverting to unzoned lands saying that they had plenty of potential to be developed and create valuable employment.

“There is already employment there and there is potential for these properties to be developed further. If anything, they will compliment any future development at the old Galway Airport site,” Cllr Carroll said.

The suggestion by the Council to have no zoning on the lands left Cllr Jimmy McClearn “scratching my head” as he said that if these properties had potential, then they should be given every encouragement.

“I believe that the proposal to zone these three buildings for business and commercial use has great merit and it should be encouraged,” he said and Cllr McClearn also pointed out that they also had the potential to bring the Council in some significant rates money.

Headford’s Cllr Mary Hoade (FF) had visited the site and said that she saw the potential there for it to be developed for the long term.

“I have seen the plans and it is very encouraging and I think that it one the Council should get behind as there will be job opportunities created there,” she said.

According to Cllr Joe Sheridan (FF), there is no apparent movement on the airport site while there are plans to develop the sites across the road from it. He too would be rejecting any moves to change its zoning from business and development.