Residents outline opposition to proposal to allow new houses closer to foreshore

A 2,000-signature petition opposing plans for a reduced 15-metre development setback for the village of Barna has been handed into Galway County Council by local residents and supporters.

The irate residents have taken exception to a proposal passed earlier this year which would have allowed for the development of houses close to the shoreline.

Members of Galway County Council voted in favour of allowing houses within 15 metres of the foreshore under the Draft County Development Plan for the next six years – but Barna residents are now challenging this decision, asking that it be overturned.

Galway County Council’s recommendation was that the building line in Barna would be setback 30 metres while Cllr Alastair McKinstry (Green) wants that extended to 50 metres so that a walkway and cycleway could be provided.

However, a proposal from local Cllr Tomas O Curraoin (Ind) that it be cut to 15 just metres was agreed by a majority of his colleagues on the Council.

Locals now fear that if this becomes part of the 2022 to 2028 County Development Plan, newly built properties will flood. It could also have implications for flood insurance costs for the whole village, it is claimed.

A submission by locals Ruth McDonagh and Ian Foley claimed that, as flooding occurred back in 2014 during a lengthy storm, it was not advisable that the building line be situated so close to the shore.

Another resident, Des Fitzgerald, who lives at Pier Road, Barna said that locals had fought to resist a hotel and apartment block development in the village and added that a 15-metre setback was not sufficient.

He said that it was essential that a strip of land adjacent to the shoreline was maintained for amenity purposes as well as to avoid the risk of flooding during high seas.

His views were echoed by another resident Treasa Ni Cheannabhain who said that there needed to be a facility provided along the seashore from Salthill, through Barna and onto Cashel in South Connemara for locals, and not just tourists.

She also spoke about the insufficient sewerage treatment system that there currently is in the village and referred to the fact that in recent weeks, during high winds and flooding, that there was evidence of raw sewage coming to the surface.

Submissions have been made by the local residents demanding that the vote by councillors as part of the County Development Plan be overturned and that a 50-metre setback apply.

Local resident and solicitor Ian Foley said that Barna was in a unique position that it had a foreshore on its doorstep and believed that it could be developed for amenity purposes.

“If the 15-metre guideline is passed then planners will be compelled to abide by what is part of the County Development Plan. That is the great fear,” Mr Foley added.